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Tengrinews.kz — Kazakh airlines have changed flight routes to the Middle East. Aircraft are now avoiding Iranian airspace, which has directly affected travel times. Tengrinews explains which destinations are affected and what passengers should expect.
Why flight routes were changed
According to the press service of the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, the decision was made due to the current situation in Iran.
“The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan has instructed all Kazakh airlines to operate flights bypassing Iranian airspace until further notice. These measures are taken solely to ensure flight safety,” the ministry said.
Which flights are affected and how long they take now
The ministry noted that Kazakh airlines Air Astana, FlyArystan and Scat Airlines continue to operate flights to Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh, Jeddah, Doha and Medina using alternative routes.
“The detours are carried out through the airspace of Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the press service noticed.
As a result of the route changes, the average flight duration has increased:
from Astana — by 40 minutes to 2 hours;
from Almaty — by 40 to 60 minutes.
Which flights were canceled
In addition, the Indian airline IndiGo has temporarily canceled flights to Kazakhstan.
“The airline has canceled flights on the Almaty–Mumbai route from January 27 to February 11, 2026,” the ministry reported.
Earlier, some international flights were also canceled, including Almaty–Delhi flights. The decision was linked to concerns over flight safety in the region surrounding Iran.
What airlines say
FlyArystan stated that, given the current situation, flights on the Aktau–Dubai–Aktau route continue to operate as scheduled. Routes have been adjusted to meet safety requirements and bypass Iranian airspace.
“The airline conducts daily monitoring of operational and geopolitical conditions in the region in close coordination with aviation authorities,” the company said.
FlyArystan also emphasized that the updated routes do not require additional technical stopovers.
Air Astana, in turn, confirmed that flights to Middle Eastern countries are operating normally.
“To ensure flight safety, routes have been adjusted. In line with instructions received earlier from the Aviation Administration, all Kazakh airlines have been temporarily required to avoid Iranian airspace,” the airline said.
Reasons behind the changes
The changes are linked to a decision by Iranian authorities, who imposed a three-month ban on all aircraft operating at low altitudes in the country’s airspace. This was announced in an international NOTAM notice.
In response, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan introduced a temporary ban for Kazakh airlines on flying over Iran, as well as within and near its airspace.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status in airline mobile apps or via SMS notifications before heading to the airport.
