Singapore Airlines, Scoot flights to avoid Iranian airspace amid escalating Middle East conflict

Source: The Star

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Singapore Airlines (SIA) and budget carrier Scoot have stopped flying over Iranian airspace, after Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory on Saturday (April 13).

The Israeli military said Iran has fired more than 200 drones and missiles at Tel Aviv since April 13.

A spokesperson for SIA told The Straits Times that as a precaution, both SIA and Scoot will use alternative flight paths from 1pm Singapore time on April 13.

The SIA Group said its top priority is the safety of customers and its employees.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, and we will adjust our flight paths as needed," the spokesperson said.

The drone strikes followed Iran's vow to retaliate over what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1, which killed seven members of its elite Revolutionary Guards, including two generals.

Israel has neither denied nor claimed responsibility for the strikes. On April 10, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel will be punished for the attack.

On April 12, US President Joe Biden warned Iran against an attack, pledging Washington's "ironclad" support for Israel.

After the strikes on April 13, Iran's mission to the United Nations announced that the attack was now "deemed concluded".

The Gaza war between Israel and Hamas has moved into its seventh month since Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas militants raided southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting some 250 others, according to Israeli tallies. - The Straits Times/ANN