UAE airspace closure leads to cancellation of 14 flights at South African major airports

ACSA confirmed that the ongoing closure of United Arab Emirates airspace is disrupting flights operated by Emirates and Qatar Airways. Airports Company South Africa(ACSA) has confirmed that the ongoing closure of United Arab Emirates airspace is disrupting flights operated byEmiratesandQatar Airwaysat several major South African airports. According to ACSA, a total of14 flights have been cancelled across the countrydue to the restrictions.

Tambo International Airport, eight flights have been affected — seven outbound and one inbound.Cape Town International Airporthas recorded four outbound cancellations, whileKing Shaka International Airporthas reported two outbound cancellations. An air travel crisis has erupted in the Middle East after the US and Israel exchanged missile strikes with Iran on Saturday morning. Major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar have all been closed until further notice.

Iranian state television confirmed the death of their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei early on Sunday morning, which sparked a new wave of retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran. ACSA has urged passengers scheduled to travel on the affected airlines to contact their carriers directly for the latest information on flight schedules and rebooking options. Travellers are also advised to consult relevant embassies where necessary for additional guidance.

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The airport operator reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and expressed concern for those inconvenienced by the disruptions. “ACSA remains committed to the safety of all travellers, and our thoughts are with those impacted by these disruptions,” the company said in a statement. Passengers are encouraged to monitor official airline communication channels for real-time updates as the situation develops.

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