TEHRAN / BAGHDAD — Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ordered all domestic airlines to immediately suspend the display and sale of tickets for flights heading to Iraq. The mandate, directed at routes across the country and particularly targeting the heavily traveled Najaf sector, marks a significant collapse in regional air connectivity following a wave of international suspensions.
Under the directive, Iranian regulators have instructed airlines to issue full refunds to all affected passengers without deducting cancellation fees or penalties. To assist travelers currently stranded at hubs across both nations, officials have tasked carriers with operating rerouted domestic flights to airfields along the Iran-Iraq border to facilitate land-border transfers.
The Iranian CAA’s ban follows decision-making across neighboring borders, where Iraqi aviation authorities forced a shutdown of direct traffic. Iraqi officials first halted Iranian flight arrivals and departures at Baghdad International Airport before extending the ban to Najaf International Airport, the primary gateway for religious pilgrims. Ground operations at Erbil and Sulaimaniyah have similarly restricted access, effectively shutting down flight corridors between the two countries.
The strain on regional aviation expanded further after the United Arab Emirates suspended all flights operated by Iranian carriers to and from its airports until further notice.The move by the UAE, a primary international transit hub for Iranian travelers, has resulted in sudden cancellations at major airports in Tehran and Dubai.
Regional civil aviation bodies and foreign governments have enacted these restrictions in response to aggressive secondary sanction threats targeting ground handling services, refueling contractors, and ticketing vendors that service Iranian airlines.
Diplomatic efforts and talks among regional aviation regulators remain ongoing, though flight schedules across the Middle East remain severely disrupted.
