Air France has resumed its service to Dubai (DXB), United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Saturday, Jan. 24, after suspending it on Friday as the U.S. announced the previous day that it was sending an “armada” to the Gulf to pressure Iran over its crackdown on protests. The Dutch-based KLM has also halted routes that flew over the Middle East.
What the airlines said
On Friday, Jan. 23, Air France stated it was halting flights to several destinations in the Middle East, adding that 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.”
KLM, which is part of the same aviation group as Air France, said on the same day that it was suspending all flights to Tel Aviv, Israel; Dubai, the UAE; and Dammam and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, until further notice.
Flights that crossed the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Israel and other Gulf countries have also been suspended, the airline added.
What Donald Trump said
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday, Jan. 22, that he was sending a naval “armada” to the Gulf and that his administration was “watching Iran.”
While talking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump added:
“And maybe we won’t have to use it … 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.”
KLM has not disclosed the official reason for suspending its flights, which remain in effect at the time of writing, but said it was in touch with the authorities in the Netherlands.
Air France stated it was still monitoring the situation and would provide updates on its flight schedule.
Have you been affected by these suspensions? Share your experiences in the comments below.
