In a major escalation, the United States and Israel launched a military attack on Iran early Saturday, with President Donald Trump confirming that "major combat operations" have begun. This follows the collapse of peace talks in Geneva earlier this week and has prompted governments around the world to issue heightened travel advisories for the region.

Airspace closures in Iran, Israel, and Iraq are causing significant disruptions to flights, and airlines have begun rerouting services in response to shifting safety assessments. As the situation unfolds, many governments are urging their citizens to evacuate affected areas or shelter in place due to the escalating security risks.

Current Travel Warnings and Updates

United Kingdom: The UK government has advised its citizens in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain to remain indoors and avoid all travel. The UK is also advising against all travel to Israel, urging nationals to stay sheltered in place.

United States: The US has issued similar instructions for citizens in the UAE, Doha, and Bahrain, urging them to stay updated with news reports and adjust their plans as needed.

Australia: Australians in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE are being told to shelter in place. Additionally, the Australian government has advised its citizens to consider leaving Israel and Lebanon, offering voluntary departure assistance for diplomatic families in those countries, as well as in the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Canada: Canada raised its travel alert to "exercise a high degree of caution" for the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. Canadians in Iran are being told to leave the country if possible, while those in other parts of the region are urged to monitor their safety closely.

India: The Indian Embassy in the UAE has advised nationals to stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow local safety instructions. The embassy in Tehran also urged Indian nationals to leave Iran by any available means due to growing tensions.

Netherlands: The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised the travel alert for Israel and Iran, advising citizens to keep a close watch on flight availability and leave while commercial travel is still possible.

Finland: Finnish authorities have advised against all travel to Iran, and citizens in Yemen and Libya have been urged to leave immediately due to the heightened risks in the region.

Germany: The German Foreign Office has updated its guidance for nationals in Israel and Lebanon, advising them to stock up on essential supplies, including food, water, and medicine. They have also warned that embassy support may be limited in case of further disruptions, such as airspace closures.

Turkey: Turkey has issued a high alert for its citizens in Iran, urging them to stay in contact with the Turkish embassy in Tehran and to prepare for overland routes if air travel becomes impossible.

Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Iran due to unpredictable security developments. The government has also increased its military readiness along the shared border with Iran.

Serbia: Serbian authorities have urged their nationals to leave Iran immediately, citing the increasing security risks and potential for further deterioration.

Poland: The Polish Prime Minister has advised Polish citizens to evacuate Iran as soon as possible, due to the rapidly escalating situation.

Sweden: Sweden has maintained its advisory for citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and leave the country immediately. They also cautioned that government evacuation support might be limited for those choosing to stay.

Cyprus: Cyprus has been advising its citizens since mid-January to avoid travel to Iran and to leave if already there, a warning that remains in place.

Singapore: The Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to recommend deferring all travel to Iran, urging caution due to the uncertainty of the region's security.

Brazil: Brazil has recommended its citizens leave Iran, as the security situation worsens, following earlier guidance to evacuate Lebanon.

Advice for Travelers in the Region

For travelers currently in the Middle East or with plans to visit soon, it is crucial to stay updated on official government travel advice and any changes to flight schedules. Travelers are encouraged to build flexibility into their plans and to stay in contact with airlines for potential disruptions.

It is also highly recommended to have comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellations, delays, and any unforeseen changes, especially considering the risk of airspace closures or changes in flight routes. The key to navigating this crisis is to remain informed, stay calm, and follow safety instructions from local authorities.

Malaysia Aviation Group, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, is considering whether to introduce a green tax on passengers to help cover the rising cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), potentially adding to airfares.

Group chief Capt. Nasaruddin A. Bakar said Monday that the company was examining different options as airlines worldwide seek to reduce carbon emissions while facing high SAF prices and limited supplies.

“We are looking at all options,” Nasaruddin told The Associated Press on the sidelines of an aviation sustainability conference. He stressed that both passengers and airlines needed to be able to afford the transition to cleaner fuel.

Singapore, Malaysia’s neighbour, has already announced a government-mandated green aviation levy set to take effect in January 2027. Charges will vary according to destination and cabin class, making Singapore the first country to announce such a measure.

The aviation sector faces growing pressure to address its environmental impact as global air travel demand increases. The International Energy Agency estimates that aviation accounts for about 2.5% of annual global carbon emissions, while the UN-backed International Civil Aviation Organization has established a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

According to the aviation organisation, sustainable aviation fuel could reduce the industry's emissions by around 65%.

SAF is typically made from renewable materials, including used cooking oil, waste fats and agricultural residues. It can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without requiring changes to their engines.

However, its widespread adoption remains constrained by higher production costs, limited manufacturing capacity and restricted access to sustainable raw materials.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that SAF currently represents less than 1% of global jet fuel consumption, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing airlines as they work towards their emissions targets.

Source: Associated Press

SalamAir has entered into a distribution agreement with travel technology company Amadeus as the Omani low-cost airline steps up efforts to expand its international presence and reach new customer segments.

Under the agreement, travel sellers connected to the Amadeus Travel Platform will gain access to SalamAir's fares and services, allowing the airline to expand its distribution network and improve the availability of its products across global markets.

Steven Allen, chief commercial officer of SalamAir, said the partnership would support the airline's growth ambitions by strengthening its international market presence and making its services more accessible to travellers seeking affordable air travel.

The agreement forms part of SalamAir's broader strategy to diversify its sales channels, increase its global visibility and respond to rising travel demand across its expanding network.

Maher Koubaa, executive vice-president of the Travel Unit and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Amadeus, said the partnership reflected the company's commitment to supporting the low-cost airline sector. He added that Amadeus' technology solutions were designed to help low-cost carriers expand and compete in international markets.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Emirates is expanding its Dubai-Durban schedule with 14 additional flights during the 2026-27 festive season, offering travellers more options during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The additional services will operate as a second daily flight between December 17 and 23, 2026, and January 2 and 8, 2027. The airline will deploy a three-class Boeing 777 on the route.

Flight EK2535 will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30. The return service, EK2536, will leave Durban at 12:15 and land in Dubai at 22:30.

Emirates' existing daily flights, EK775 and EK776, will continue to operate according to their regular schedules.

The airline is also providing flexible booking options to help passengers manage changes to their travel plans. Customers booking flights to Dubai can change their travel dates an unlimited number of times without fees across all cabin classes. For tickets to other destinations, passengers are entitled to one complimentary date change.

Emirates' Hold My Fare service allows customers to reserve a ticket price for 24 hours at no additional cost. The airline has also reduced its refund fees.

Source: TradeArabia

Lufthansa has increased fuel loading on flights bound for Frankfurt Airport as a precautionary measure amid tighter jet fuel supplies caused by reduced pipeline capacity.

The airline said on Thursday that the move was intended to manage potential supply constraints at Germany’s largest aviation hub. Airport operator Fraport confirmed that routine maintenance was under way on a pipeline supplying jet fuel to the airport.

Fraport said the maintenance had been factored into its operational planning and was not expected to cause a fuel supply bottleneck. Alternative supply routes and sufficient storage capacity were helping to mitigate potential disruption.

“The airport's operational capability is therefore not affected,” Fraport said.

Lufthansa said it was not currently anticipating any flight cancellations as a result of the situation.

German newspaper Bild first reported the additional fuelling measures, citing internal instructions reportedly issued to Lufthansa pilots on selected routes. The practice, known as “tankering”, involves carrying more fuel than required for a flight so that an aircraft needs less or no refuelling at its destination.

According to Bild, the additional fuel carried by Airbus A320-family aircraft is limited to eight tonnes to ensure the planes can still be towed on the ground. The measures primarily affect short-haul services, although some long-haul flights are increasingly being included.

The precautionary steps are intended to give Lufthansa greater flexibility in managing its fuel requirements while pipeline maintenance continues at Frankfurt Airport.

Source: Reuters

Turkish Airlines has signed a strategic agreement with CFM International to strengthen engine maintenance capabilities and support the expansion of its Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

The long-term services agreement will cover the airline group's entire LEAP-1B engine fleet, including engines already ordered and delivered, spare engines, units installed on leased aircraft and potential future options. The combined total exceeds 600 engines operated by Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary, AJet.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during a ceremony in Istanbul by Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Murat Şeker; Turkish Technic CEO and Board Member, Mikail Akbulut; and Safran CEO Olivier Andriès. Safran is one of the two parent companies of CFM International.

The agreement also includes a material services arrangement to support the development of an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Türkiye.

Şeker said the partnership would help Turkish Airlines accommodate fleet and network growth while improving operational efficiency. He added that the expanded services agreement would provide the technical expertise and long-term support required to develop LEAP engine maintenance capabilities.

Akbulut said the agreement would enable Turkish Technic to undertake comprehensive LEAP engine maintenance. He also reaffirmed the company's commitment to investing in engine services alongside its existing aircraft and component maintenance operations.

Andriès described the MoU as another milestone in a relationship with Turkish Airlines that has lasted nearly four decades. He said the agreement reflected both companies' ambitions to support the airline's growth and fleet expansion, while promoting an open MRO ecosystem offering flexible, competitive services to improve operational performance and control costs.

GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr. also welcomed the agreement, highlighting Turkish Airlines' extensive international network and its confidence in CFM engines. He said the partnership would build on the companies' established relationship as the airline expands its Istanbul operations and engine maintenance capabilities.

Turkish Airlines currently operates 96 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft powered by CFM56-7B engines and 79 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft equipped with LEAP-1B engines.

CFM said it had delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines during the 10 years since the engine entered service, with the fleet accumulating over 100 million flight hours. The manufacturer continues to introduce upgrades, including a high-pressure turbine durability kit designed to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS).

The agreement is expected to strengthen Turkish Airlines' long-standing relationship with CFM International and support the integration of newly ordered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into its expanding fleet. The planned engine MRO facility will also enhance Turkish Technic's ability to provide comprehensive maintenance services.

Source: Turkish Airlines