Finnair diverts flights out of Iranian airspace amid increased Mideast tensions

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Finland’s national airline, Finnair, diverted its Asian flights Saturday to avoid Iranian airspace amid growing fears that Tehran would retaliate against Israel for an airstrike that killed top Iranian commanders early this month.

Planes returning from Asia have been diverted to the north of Iran through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the Caspian Sea, according to national broadcaster, Yle.

Several Western airlines have also suspended flights to Iran.

German airline Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines canceled services to Tehran at least until April 18, according to media reports.

Qantas direct service from Perth to London’s Heathrow Airport has also been paused because the long flight is possible only by using Iranian airspace.

The diversions come after US President Joe Biden issued a warning that a major attack on Israel could happen “sooner rather than later.”

Tehran threatened to retaliate for an April 1 airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus in which seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, including two generals, were killed.

That response came Saturday when Iran launched an airborne attack with missiles and drones against Israel.

Several countries including the UK, France, Poland, Russia and India warned their nationals against travel to Israel, occupied Palestinian territories, and in some cases the region as a whole, amid fears of an escalation of violence.