Amid flaring tensions between the United States and Iran, at least two European airlines cancelled flights to the Middle East on Friday (Jan 23). Air France said that it was temporarily halting services to Dubai, citing the geopolitical situation in the region. Dutch airline KLM also halted its flights to cities in the Middle East until further notice, adding that it would not fly through the airspace of several countries in the region, including Iran and Iraq. Meanwhile, Germany’s Lufthansa airline had earlier stated that it will not operate flights “from and to Tehran up to and including March 29.”The flight disruptions come after US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 22) threatened that a US “armada” was heading towards the Gulf, adding that Washington was watching Iran closely despite Tehran’s suspension of planned executions of protesters amid its government’s crackdown. Meanwhile, Trump also suggested Iran was willing to talk while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he unveiled an international ‘Board of Peace’.“Due to the current situation in the Middle East, the company has decided to temporarily suspend its service to Dubai,” France’s national carrier said in a statement to AFP.The airline added it was “constantly monitoring the evolution of the geopolitical situation in the territories served and overflown by its aircraft” to ensure “the highest level of safety and security” while operating flights. “Air France is monitoring the situation in real time and will provide further updates on its flight schedule,” the French airline said.Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported on Friday that KLM said that it had suspended its flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh until further notice, without proving reason behind the decision. It added that it would not fly through the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel and several other Gulf nations. The airline said that it was in touch with Dutch authorities.What did Trump say?“We’re watching Iran,” Trump said while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction. And we’ll see what happens.” Trump said.Claiming the credit for stopping hundreds of executions in Iran amid the violent protests that killed thousands, Trump said, “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely. I stopped 837 hangings on Thursday. They would have been dead. Everyone would have been hung. This is like from 1,000 years ago.”He further added, “We have an armada. We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see.”

Major European airlines, including Air France and KLM, suspended flights to parts of the Middle East citing security concerns as US-Iran tensions rose after President Donald Trump warned that a US “armada” was heading toward the Gulf.

Amid flaring tensions between the United States and Iran, at least two European airlines cancelled flights to the Middle East on Friday (Jan 23). Air France said that it was temporarily halting services to Dubai, citing the geopolitical situation in the region. Dutch airline KLM also halted its flights to cities in the Middle East until further notice, adding that it would not fly through the airspace of several countries in the region, including Iran and Iraq. Meanwhile, Germany’s Lufthansa airline had earlier stated that it will not operate flights “from and to Tehran up to and including March 29.” The flight disruptions come after US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 22) threatened that a US “armada” was heading towards the Gulf, adding that Washington was watching Iran closely despite Tehran’s suspension of planned executions of protesters amid its government’s crackdown. Meanwhile, Trump also suggested Iran was willing to talk while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he unveiled an international ‘Board of Peace’. “Due to the current situation in the Middle East, the company has decided to temporarily suspend its service to Dubai,” France’s national carrier said in a statement to AFP. The airline added it was “constantly monitoring the evolution of the geopolitical situation in the territories served and overflown by its aircraft” to ensure “the highest level of safety and security” while operating flights. “Air France is monitoring the situation in real time and will provide further updates on its flight schedule,” the French airline said. Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported on Friday that KLM said that it had suspended its flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh until further notice, without proving reason behind the decision. It added that it would not fly through the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel and several other Gulf nations. The airline said that it was in touch with Dutch authorities. What did Trump say? “We’re watching Iran,” Trump said while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction. And we’ll see what happens.” Trump said. Claiming the credit for stopping hundreds of executions in Iran amid the violent protests that killed thousands, Trump said, “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely. I stopped 837 hangings on Thursday. They would have been dead. Everyone would have been hung. This is like from 1,000 years ago.” He further added, “We have an armada. We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see.”

Major European airlines, including Air France and KLM, suspended flights to parts of the Middle East, citing security concerns as US-Iran tensions rose after President Donald Trump warned that a US “armada” was heading toward the Gulf.

Airlines cancel flights to Middle East after Trump’s ‘armada’ warning to Iran – What’s happening?

The abrupt resignations of several of the pilots at Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air have forced the firm to temporarily reduce its flight schedule. This has led to a legal conflict, and the airline has threatened to shut down if there are any more resignations.

Flights were disrupted because a number of pilots "abandoned their duties" and left without giving the required contractual notice period, but the airline is still on track to make investments in expanding its operations and acquiring more aircraft, CEO Vinay Dube wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the proceedings, Dube's email was sent on the same day the airline's attorney warned a Delhi court that Akasa was in "crisis" and would shut down as a result of the sudden resignations.

According to the source, Akasa informed the court that it had to cancel 600 flights in August and that if the resignations continue; it may have to cancel up to 700 more in September.

"We have chosen to fly less and give up market share ... these are only short-term constraints," Reuters quoted him as saying. He also mentioned that the airline had "strong finances" and was positive about its future.

To enforce the notice period, Akasa has taken the pilots, many of whom have joined rival Air India Express, to court and filed a lawsuit against the aviation authority.

According to the aviation regulation, the notice term varies depending on the rank of the pilot and spans from 6 to 12 months.

In a statement, Akasa stated that “all our actions are aimed at creating a durable and reliable airline for the long run.”

Akasa Air’s distress call comes at a moment of extreme polarisation in India's aviation sector, where IndiGo, the largest airline in the nation, and Tata-owned Air India dominate roughly two-thirds of the market, while SpiceJet struggles to raise money and Go Air struggles to emerge from bankruptcy.

Akasa, which was established in 2022 by Dube and former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh, had its market share decline to 4.2 per cent in August from 5.2 per cent a month earlier, according to official data.

In order to expand its international flying plans, Akasa, which has 72 Boeing planes on order, bought four more 737 MAX aircraft in June. Before the end of the year, it is expected to announce a fresh three-digit aircraft order, according to Dube.

According to Dube, Akasa received approval from India's civil aviation ministry last week to launch foreign flights. The government is currently addressing the airline's request for traffic rights, following which the company can decide on its initial destinations.

"Akasa is a well-run airline with strong finances and a solid plan," Reuters quoted him as saying.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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The abrupt resignations of several of the pilots at Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air have forced the firm to temporarily reduce its flight schedule. This has led to a legal conflict, and the airline has threatened to shut down if there are any more resignations.

The abrupt resignations of several of the pilots at Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air have forced the firm to temporarily reduce its flight schedule. This has led to a legal conflict, and the airline has threatened to shut down if there are any more resignations. Flights were disrupted because a number of pilots "abandoned their duties" and left without giving the required contractual notice period, but the airline is still on track to make investments in expanding its operations and acquiring more aircraft, CEO Vinay Dube wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday. According to a source with direct knowledge of the proceedings, Dube's email was sent on the same day the airline's attorney warned a Delhi court that Akasa was in "crisis" and would shut down as a result of the sudden resignations. According to the source, Akasa informed the court that it had to cancel 600 flights in August and that if the resignations continue; it may have to cancel up to 700 more in September. "We have chosen to fly less and give up market share ... these are only short-term constraints," Reuters quoted him as saying. He also mentioned that the airline had "strong finances" and was positive about its future. To enforce the notice period, Akasa has taken the pilots, many of whom have joined rival Air India Express, to court and filed a lawsuit against the aviation authority. According to the aviation regulation, the notice term varies depending on the rank of the pilot and spans from 6 to 12 months. In a statement, Akasa stated that “all our actions are aimed at creating a durable and reliable airline for the long run.” Akasa Air’s distress call comes at a moment of extreme polarisation in India's aviation sector, where IndiGo, the largest airline in the nation, and Tata-owned Air India dominate roughly two-thirds of the market, while SpiceJet struggles to raise money and Go Air struggles to emerge from bankruptcy. Akasa, which was established in 2022 by Dube and former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh, had its market share decline to 4.2 per cent in August from 5.2 per cent a month earlier, according to official data. In order to expand its international flying plans, Akasa, which has 72 Boeing planes on order, bought four more 737 MAX aircraft in June. Before the end of the year, it is expected to announce a fresh three-digit aircraft order, according to Dube. According to Dube, Akasa received approval from India's civil aviation ministry last week to launch foreign flights. The government is currently addressing the airline's request for traffic rights, following which the company can decide on its initial destinations. "Akasa is a well-run airline with strong finances and a solid plan," Reuters quoted him as saying. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India's Akasa Air reduces flights as pilots leave, warns of a possible shutdown: Report

Cyclone Gabrielle: Thousands left without power, flights cancelled, emergency declared

In the midst of an unprecedented fuel crisis in Sri Lanka, the island nation's national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, is bracing for flight cancellations until July 18.

Sri Lankan airlines bracing for flight cancellations amid fuel crisis