No airline rerouting affecting Jordan as regional airspace tensions persist

A previous report suggesting that Ryanair and Wizz Air rerouted flights scheduled for Amman and Tel Aviv amid regional tensions does not reflect the verified aviation data.

Updated flight-tracking data and airline operational notices confirm that neither Ryanair nor Wizz Air has made any changes to flights serving Amman.

There are currently no disruptions, diversions, or reroutings affecting Queen Alia International Airport or Jordanian airspace.

Flights to and from Amman continue to operate normally, with no restrictions linked to recent regional developments. No low-cost or legacy carrier has announced operational changes to Amman-bound services, and Jordan’s airspace remains fully open and unaffected.

What is actually happening in the region

While Amman itself remains unaffected, parts of the wider Middle East airspace have entered a period of heightened operational caution following a brief but significant closure of Iranian airspace on January 15, 2026. The shutdown, which lasted around five hours, prompted immediate risk reassessments across the global aviation industry.

Since then, most major corridors have reopened. However, airlines are operating under tightened safety protocols, including daylight-only schedules, extended routings, and technical fuel stops to avoid high-risk airspace.

Airline operations and verified changes

• European carriers:
  The Lufthansa Group, including Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines, has extended its suspension of flights to Tehran until at least January 28, with Beirut suspended through February 28. Services to Tel Aviv and Amman continue, but are restricted to daytime operations, largely to avoid overnight crew exposure.
  Air France-KLM has placed routes to Lebanon and ‘Israel’ under continuous review. Several long-haul flights to South and Southeast Asia are currently avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace, adding up to 90 minutes to some journeys.

• Gulf carriers:
  Emirates and flydubai resumed partial operations to Iranian destinations on January 16 after a wave of short-term cancellations. Flights to Baghdad and Basra remain subject to last-minute adjustments based on real-time security assessments.

• US carriers:
  United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have continued limited direct flights to Tel Aviv as of January 17. Both airlines are strictly avoiding Iranian and Iraqi flight information regions, instead routing aircraft over the Mediterranean and Saudi Arabia, significantly increasing flight times.

The reality for low-cost airlines

Contrary to earlier claims, Wizz Air and Ryanair have not rerouted flights to Amman. However, some low-cost carriers operating longer regional routes are facing logistical strain due to airspace avoidance.

Wizz Air and Pegasus Airlines, which rely heavily on Airbus A321neo aircraft, have established technical fuel stops in cities such as Larnaca and Thessaloniki on certain routes. These measures are tied to aircraft range limitations when bypassing Iran and Iraq, not to conditions in Jordan.

Airspace congestion and emerging risks

With nearly 80% of East-West traffic now funneled through narrower corridors over Saudi Arabia and the Sinai Peninsula, air traffic congestion has increased. Delays are mounting as aircraft queue for clearance through these safer routes.

At the same time, pilots operating near the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant have reported persistent GPS interference and spoofing, raising navigational risks, particularly during night operations. This has reinforced daylight-only policies among several European carriers.

Insurance and geopolitical backdrop

War-risk insurance premiums remain elevated. London insurers continue to classify the Persian Gulf and surrounding areas as high-risk zones, adding substantial costs to airline operations.

The aviation uncertainty follows Iran’s temporary airspace shutdown on January 15, which Tehran attributed to internal security measures amid rising regional and international tensions. The continued high readiness of US naval forces in the Persian Gulf has further shaped airline risk calculations.

Airport status overview as of January 17, 2026

• Tehran: Western carriers suspended; regional airlines operating on rolling assessments
• Tel Aviv: Daytime-only operations for many European carriers; limited US flights ongoing
• Beirut: Broad suspensions remain in place
• Baghdad: Flights operating with congestion and security-based adjustments
• Amman: Fully operational with no disruptions or rerouting

Verified aviation data shows no impact on Jordan’s airspace or operations at Amman’s airport despite heightened regional airspace volatility.