EU aviation agency EASA adds Jordan to 'no-fly list' amid escalating conflict

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recommended that airlines refrain from operating within Jordanian airspace (Amman FIR).

EASA on Wednesday asked airlines not to operate within the airspace of Jordan after it and other U.S. Gulf allies were struck by Iran in the renewed conflict.

This update adds Jordan to the list of regional airspaces under strict advisory as escalating regional conflict and cross-border military strikes continue to create severe risks for civil aviation.

The agency last week reinstated and strengthened its warning for airlines operating in the Middle East, advising them to avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf of Oman as the U.S.-Iran conflict intensified.

Key Reason for Escalation:

EASA advises EU operators and third-country carriers authorized by EASA to avoid flying over or operating within Jordanian airspace at all flight levels as it cited a rapid deterioration in security and a sustained increase in military activity including the trajectory of ballistic missiles and drone strikes crossing through or targeting nearby regions.

The regulatory body instructs airlines to continuously monitor local NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions) and conduct rigorous risk assessments before planning routes through adjacent flight information regions.

Major international airlines are rerouting long-haul flights between Europe and Asia/the Gulf to bypass Jordanian airspace, leading to longer flight times, increased fuel consumption, and potential schedule changes.

EASA said, the advisory for Jordan and Middle East countries was extended on Wednesday from the previous July 29 deadline to August 31, 2026.