EASA extends Middle East conflict airspace warning until 6 March

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) covering the Middle East and Persian Gulf until 6 March 2026, citing continued high risks to civil aviation following military escalation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The bulletin (CZIB 2026-03-R1), first issued on 28 February and revised on 2 March, was prolonged after consultation between EASA, the European Commission and EU Member States. No changes were made to the substance of the safety assessment.

Entire Regional Airspace Deemed High Risk

EASA warns that all flight levels and altitudes across a broad swathe of regional airspace are considered high risk. The affected Flight Information Regions (FIRs) include:

• Bahrain (OBBB)

• Iran (OIIX – Tehran FIR)

• Iraq (ORBB – Baghdad FIR)

• Israel (LLLL – Tel Aviv FIR)

• Jordan (OJAC – Amman FIR)

• Kuwait (OKAC)

• Lebanon (OLBB – Beirut FIR)

• Oman (OOMM – Muscat FIR)

• Qatar (OTDF – Doha FIR)

• United Arab Emirates (OMAE – Emirates FIR)

• Saudi Arabia (OEJD – Jeddah FIR)

The agency highlights the presence of all-altitude capable air defence systems, cruise and ballistic missiles, and active military air operations — factors that significantly increase the risk of spill-over effects, misidentification, miscalculation or interception failures.

Direct Recommendation: Do Not Operate

EASA is explicitly recommending that EU air operators and EASA-authorised third-country operators:

• Do not operate in the affected airspace at any altitude, and

• Closely monitor aeronautical publications and official guidance from national authorities.

The regulator states that the ongoing military intervention and potential retaliatory actions against U.S. and Israeli assets in the region make the entire airspace vulnerable to sudden escalation.

Superseding Previous Bulletins

The new CZIB replaces earlier advisories concerning Iran and neighbouring airspace (2026-02-R1), as well as previous bulletins covering Lebanon and Iraq. Separate standing recommendations advising against operations in Syrian and Yemeni airspace remain in force.

Implications for European Aviation

The extension formalises what many European carriers had already implemented operationally: large-scale avoidance of Middle Eastern overflight corridors and suspension of services to several Gulf and Levant destinations.

By classifying the entire region as high risk at all flight levels, EASA effectively removes the option of high-altitude transit as a mitigation strategy. Airlines must instead reroute around the conflict zone, adding flight time, fuel burn and operational complexity to Europe–Asia and Europe–Africa services.

EASA says it will continue to reassess the situation in coordination with the European Commission and Member States and may amend or withdraw the bulletin depending on the evolution of the threat environment.

For now, the regulator’s position is unequivocal: the risk to civil aviation across much of the Middle East and Persian Gulf remains high.