RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has urged airlines operating international routes to or through the Middle East to heighten vigilance following the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel and its ally, the United States.

“Several international flights passing through the Middle East have been affected. Some have been canceled, while others are currently operating as normal. Therefore, we urge airlines to increase vigilance and passengers to actively monitor developments,” Dudy said in Jakarta on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as quoted on the Ministry's official website.

Several foreign airlines have canceled or suspended flights to and from cities in the Middle East since the conflict intensified. The affected carriers include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, IndiGo, SriLankan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Scoot.

Saudia Airlines is monitoring several destinations in the region. Ethiopian Airlines continues to operate normally but has suspended flights to Amman, Jordan, and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Two Indonesian carriers operating through Middle Eastern airspace, Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, have not been directly affected. Flights to Jeddah continue to operate normally, while Garuda Indonesia’s Amsterdam route has been rerouted via Cairo, Egypt, to avoid affected airspace.

Minister Dudy emphasized that aviation safety and security remain the top priority. The Transportation Ministry continues to coordinate with AirNav Indonesia, airlines, airport operators, and foreign aviation authorities to update information on airspace security in the Middle East and ensure safe and smooth flight operations.

Several countries have closed their airspace to all commercial and private flights, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria.

“We have coordinated and asked airlines to monitor conditions in Middle Eastern airspace, including for Umrah travel,” Minister Dudy said.

He added that the ministry has instructed airlines and airport operators to handle affected passengers in accordance with prevailing procedures, including processing travel document cancellations at immigration areas, arranging accommodation, and rescheduling flights.

Minister Dudy also ensured that flight operations at all airports across Indonesia, particularly for international routes, continue to run safely and smoothly for both departures and arrivals. ***