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Russia suspends flights from Iran and Israel
The 'Russian Ministry of Transport announced 'on Saturday, that Russian airlines?had halted flights to iran and Israel. Israel announced that it launched a preemptive strike against Iran on Sunday, pushing the Middle East back into a new military confrontation. This has further dimmed hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the long-running dispute between Tehran and the West over its nuclear program. According to the ministry, Russian airlines, working with the ministry, Rosaviatsiya, the aviation watchdog, and the ministry, have worked out alternate 'flight routes' in advance in order to ensure that flights into the Persian Gulf countries are safe. The longer distances will result in increased flight times, the report said. Rosaviatsiya stated in a separate announcement published on Saturday, that it had made recommendations to Russian air carriers following the closure of their airspace by Bahrain, Iraq and Qatar for 'flight safety.' The UAE had also placed temporary restrictions on use of their airspace. The Russian airspace monitor'said that carriers should choose alternate routes to fly to the Persian Gulf countries. They are also advised to observe 'all safety measures' and actively monitor the recommendations made by the aviation authorities in foreign states. Reporting by Ksenia orlova, editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Aidan Lewis
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After the Iranian strikes, Greece warns Greek-flagged ships to avoid certain shipping routes
According to a?report seen by, Greece's Shipping Ministry advised Greek-flagged ships on Saturday to exercise maximum caution and avoid the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran. The document stated that "the developing situation affects'safety of Navigation in the wider Persian Gulf",?the Straits of Hormuz and?the Gulf of Oman, and?North Arabian Sea",?advising managing companies to implement the highest levels of security in these areas and Israeli port until further notice. The statement added that the crisis could spread to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden due to 'links between Iran, Iran-aligned Houthi militants and the Gulf of Aden. The advisory warned that ships should be on the lookout for potential drone or missile attacks, strikes against port 'facilities, harassment, or electronic interference and disruptions to electronic navigation systems. Reporting by Yannis Souiotis, Renee Maltezou and Aidan Lewis.
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Why is it important to oil that the Strait of Hormuz is so wide?
The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, which could result in the closure of a major oil-export route, the Strait of Hormuz. Here are some details about the Strait. What is the 'STRAIT of HORMUZ'? The strait is located between Iran and?Oman? and connects the Gulf of Oman in the south with the Arabian Sea to the north. The strait is only 21 miles wide (33 km), with a shipping lane that is just 3 km wide in each direction. Why does it matter? Around a fifth (25%) of all oil consumed in the world passes through this strait. Data from the analytics firm Vortexa revealed that on average, more than 20 million barrels per day of crude oil, condensate, and fuels were transported through the Strait in 2013. OPEC member Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates export the majority of their 'crude oil' via the Strait. This is mainly for Asia. Qatar, one of the largest LNG exporters in the world, ships almost all its LNG through this strait. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two of OPEC+'s top producers, have increased oil exports recently as part a contingency plan. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have been looking for other ways to bypass the Strait. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated in June of last year that existing UAE and Saudi pipelines have unused capacity of about 2.6 million barrels a day (bpd). Fifth Fleet of the United States, based out of Bahrain, has been tasked to protect commercial shipping in this area. History of Tensions In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia imposed an oil embargo against Western supporters of Israel's war with Egypt. The U.S. is a major exporter and producer of OPEC crude. In the Tanker War that raged between 1980-1988, both sides tried to disrupt the other's exports. In January 2012, Iran vowed to "block the Strait" in response to U.S. sanctions and European ones. In May 2019, four vessels, including two Saudi oil tanks, were attacked near the UAE coast outside the Strait of Hormuz. Iran seized three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one each in 2023 and 2024. Some of these seizures were a result of U.S. tanker seizures related to Iran. The U.S. attacked Iran's nuclear facilities last year. Iran was considering closing the Strait. (Reporting and editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Janet Lawrence and Dmitry Zhdannikov. Additional reporting and editing by Marwa Rashed and Yousef Sabah.
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After US and Israel attacks on Iran, airlines suspend Middle East flights
Global Airlines suspended flights across the Middle East Saturday, after Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran. This plunged the region into another military conflict. Flight maps showed that the airspace over Iran was almost empty after Israel claimed to have struck Iran, and the U.S. military launched a series strikes against Iranian targets. Iran responded with a salvo missiles. The escalated conflict has dimmed the hopes of a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West. It also reignited the conflict following weeks of U.S. Military buildups in the area. The Middle East is experiencing escalating tensions, which has caused a major disruption in air travel. Due to the years of conflict, Russian and Ukrainian airspace is 'closed' to most airlines. The Middle East is now a major route between Europe and Asia. Aircraft attacks are increasing the operational burden for airlines in conflict zones, as they worry about accidentally or deliberately shooting down commercial air traffic. More fuel is needed to cover longer flight times, which increases the cost of flights. Israel, Iran and Iraq closed their airspace after the attacks. A map of the area on?Flightradar24 shows airplanes avoiding this region. LUFTHANSA AND WIZZ AIR SUSPEND FLYING Flightradar24 reports that a number of Qatar Airways aircraft took off on Saturday, circled over Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, before returning to Qatari airspace, then circled around Doha. On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Transport announced that Russian airlines had suspended flights from Iran and Israel. Lufthansa, a German airline, announced that it would suspend flights from and to Dubai on Sunday and Saturday. It will also temporarily halt the Tel Aviv routes and those between Beirut and Oman until March 7. Air France has cancelled flights from and to Tel Aviv, Beirut. Wizz Air also suspended flights from and to Israel, Dubai Abu Dhabi, Amman and Abu Dhabi with immediate effect, until the same date. Kuwait's aviation authority announced that it would halt all flights to Iran "until further notification", according to state news agency. Oman Air also said that it had suspended all "flights" to Baghdad because of the regional developments. As a precautionary measure, the United Arab Emirates temporarily and partially closed their airspace. This was announced by its official news agency. A spokesperson for Emirati carrier flydubai said that some flights were affected by the temporary closure on 28th February of several airspaces in the region. A spokesperson for KLM, Dutch arm of Air France KLM, said that the company has suspended its Amsterdam-Tel Aviv flight, canceling the flight scheduled on Saturday, following strikes in Iran. The airline announced on Wednesday that all flights would cease from Sunday, March 1. The airline had announced?on Wednesday that flights would be halted from Sunday,?March 1. Virgin Atlantic announced that it decided to avoid Iraqi airspace temporarily, which resulted in a rerouting of some flights. Qatar Airways announced that it temporarily halted all air traffic as a precaution.
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North Dakota Judge finalizes $345 Million judgment against Greenpeace
A North Dakota judge finalized on Friday a $345-million judgment against Greenpeace, in a suit filed by Energy Transfer in response to the environmental group's protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The final judgement?by?Judge James Gion is in line with his decision in October in which he reduced by almost half the damages award of $667 million awarded to Energy Transfer in March. Greenpeace said in a press release that it would request a new trial, and if needed, appeal the ruling to the North Dakota Supreme Court. It called the lawsuit "a blatant effort to silence free expression." In a recent statement, Marco Simons said that speaking out against companies who harm the environment should never be considered illegal. In a press release, Energy?Transfer called the decision "an important step in this?legal procedure of holding?Greenpeace responsible for its unlawful and harmful actions against us during construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline." The statement said that it was "analyzing the next steps we could take to ensure they are held accountable." Dakota Access, a project near Standing Rock Indian Reservation, began in 2016 and was completed by 2017. Environmental and tribal advocacy groups protested the construction of the pipeline that transports approximately 40% of oil produced in North Dakota's Bakken area. They alleged it would contaminate the local water supply as well as exacerbate climate changes. Energy Transfer, a Texas-based company, first sued Greenpeace in a North Dakota federal court in 2017. It accused?it?of spreading falsehoods and paying protesters for construction disruption. In March, the North Dakota jury rendered its verdict, which included damages for defamation and trespass, as well as conspiracy. In February, Greenpeace filed a counter-suit in the Netherlands against Energy Transfer under a European Law aimed at reducing lawsuits filed in order to intimidate or silence activists. This litigation is still ongoing. Reporting by Nate Raymond, Boston; editing by Chris Reese
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Bolivian military plane crashes near La Paz capital in El Alto
LA PAZ, February '27 - According to TV media reports, a Bolivian Air Force Hercules crashed into a busy street in El Alto on Friday night, amid bad weather. Local media Unitel reported that the aircraft was carrying new banknotes into the interior of Bolivia, citing the Bolivian Ministry of Defense. Social media footage shows a chaotic scene with?people rushing to the crash site to collect?money strewn across the ground. Local authorities were using water hoses to keep people away from the accident site. I was unable identify the images. The authorities have not confirmed any injuries or deaths. Bolivia's central banks was scheduled to speak with reporters on Friday evening. In a press release, Boliviana de Aviacion, the national airline, said that the El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed after the crash. The aircraft involved did not come from the airline's fleet. Local media broadcasted video showing that the aircraft was severely damaged as well as a number of vehicles along the street where the accident took place. (Reporting and writing by Daniel Ramos, Inigo Alexander, Editing by Brendan O'Boyle).
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FedEx customers seek tariff refunds following US Supreme Court ruling
FedEx was sued in federal court on behalf of customers who were seeking refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court decided this month that President Donald Trump had illegally imposed emergency tariffs worth billions of dollar on imported goods. The proposed class-action in federal court in Miami Florida seeks compensation for potentially millions of shippers that paid import duties and other fees on products they claim?should've entered the United States without duty. FedEx issued a statement Friday saying: "If FedEx receives refunds, we will refund the shippers or consumers who initially incurred these charges." The lawsuit filed on Friday alleged that FedEx's promises were not legally enforceable. John Yanchunis is a Miami-based lawyer representing plaintiff Matthew Reiser. FedEx is one of at least 2,000 businesses that have sued the federal government before the U.S. Court of International Trade in order to recover tariffs paid on imported goods. This was done under the International Economic Emergency Powers 'Act (IEEPA). On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision of 6-3, ruled that Trump had overstepped his powers by using emergency powers to impose tariffs. Reiser, who filed the lawsuit on Friday, claimed that FedEx charged him $36 – $21 for IEEPA duties, and $15 for brokerage and clearance fees – after he purchased tennis shoes from a German retailer. In the lawsuit, it was argued that no duty should have been required. Hasbro, a toymaker, joined thousands of other companies in suing the U.S. Court of International Trade for refunds of tariffs. The French beauty group L'Oreal, the British vacuum manufacturer Dyson, and Bausch + Lomb, along with retailers like Costco and J. Crew, have also filed lawsuits. Crew. (Reporting and editing by David Bario, E. Smith, and Mike Scarcella)
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FAA reduces flights at Chicago O'Hare due to increased schedules
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to reduce flights this summer at Chicago O'Hare Airport, claiming major airlines overscheduled their flights. The agency announced on Friday. On March 3, the FAA will convene a meeting with major airlines to discuss reducing flight schedules after United Airlines and American Airlines both announced significant increases. The FAA has plans to reduce flight numbers for the summer season which begins March 29 and ends October 25. According to the FAA, airlines have published a schedule that shows more than 3,080 daily flights on peak days in this summer compared to 2,680 daily flights last summer. The FAA stated that the "increase in operations is significant" and will put stress on the air traffic control system, the terminals, and the runways. According to the FAA, O'Hare currently handles about 100 departures and arriving each hour. This amounts to about 2,800 daily operations. The agency stated that this is manageable, "given the current infrastructure and staff resources." The agency proposes adopting the limit of 2,800 passengers per day throughout the season, "to avoid large-scale disruptions in operations while also allowing airlines to operate within the demonstrated manageable capacity at the airport." United plans to increase its daily flights from Chicago O'Hare from 541 flights in average last year to 780 this month. United has announced that it will increase its mainline departures out of O'Hare this summer by 20%. American Airlines announced in December that it would increase daily departures from O'Hare to more than 75 destinations, a 30% rise compared with 2025. American announced that it would restore pre-pandemic flight levels by March with 500 daily departures 'from O'Hare. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a closed door meeting that the 'agency is concerned about O'Hare being able to function with the extra flights this summer. He also noted that the agency held a meeting last summer to reduce the schedule and reduced flights at Newark.
Airlines cancel flights following US and Israel attacks on Iran
Global Airlines cancelled flights in the Middle East Saturday after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, causing the region to plunge into a new conflict.
Flightradar24's maps showed that the airspace above Iran and Iraq was empty on Saturday morning.
The following is a list of the most recent flights by alphabetical order.
AIR FRANCE KLM Air France has cancelled all flights from and to Tel Aviv, Israel and Beirut, Lebanon on Saturday. KLM has 'advanced the suspension of their Amsterdam-Tel Aviv services, cancelling the scheduled flight for Saturday. Air France-KLM's Dutch branch announced on Wednesday the suspension of flights from Sunday. However, they have now moved that date forward.
On Saturday, only one flight was scheduled to Tel-Aviv.
INDIGO INDIGO said it was'monitoring regional updates.
JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines has cancelled a flight from Tokyo Haneda on Saturday to Doha, as well as a subsequent flight on 1 March.
LUFTHANSA - The German airline has suspended flights from and to Tel Aviv, Israel, Beirut, Lebanon, and Oman until March 7, and flights from and to Dubai on Saturdays and Sundays.
Also, they said that they would not add Israeli, Lebanese and Jordanian airspace, nor Iraqi, Iranian or Iraqi airspace, until March 7.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC Virgin 'Atlantic' said that it would temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace. This will result in some preplanned reroutings of its flights resulting in the cancellation of its VS400 flight from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.
WIZZ AIR With immediate effect, the airline has halted all flights to and from Israel as well as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman.
The statement added that "operational decisions will continue to be reviewed and the flight schedule can be adjusted as circumstances change." (Compiled and edited by Barbara Lewis; reporting by buros)
(source: Reuters)