Morocco emerges as a new stopover route in a turbulent Middle East

Morocco is becoming a hot spot for air travel as the Middle East is getting more and more unstable. Pilots like Andy Spencer, a seasoned flyer from Singapore, told Reuters they are already changing their routes to avoid risky airspace. 

Spencer’s recent flight from Manila to Cuba took him through Dubai, Egypt, and Malta before refuelling in Morocco, skipping over places like Libya and Israel.

Big airlines like Qatar Airways and Lufthansa are also re-routing their flights, choosing safer paths through the Arabian Peninsula or along the African coast. 

This shift is set to make Morocco a major hub or stopover for flights between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. 

Growing concerns over a wider conflict in the Middle East have prompted several international airlines to suspend flights to the region or avoid affected airspace. 

Among the affected airlines, Greece’s national carrier has canceled flights to and from Beirut until March 29 and to and from Tel Aviv until January 15. Algeria’s flag carrier, Air Algerie, has also suspended flights to and from Lebanon until further notice. 

Europe’s largest low-cost airline, Ryanair, has extended its suspension of flights to Israel until at least March 31, while a decision on resuming flights to and from Jordan in December is still under review.

These suspensions are precautionary measures to prioritize passenger and crew safety in light of the increased security risks. Some airlines have extended these disruptions into 2025.

Flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut have been particularly affected. Airlines have responded by rerouting flights, canceling operations, and offering flexible rebooking or refund options for passengers. 

For instance, American Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until March 2025. European carriers such as Lufthansa and Wizz Air have also reduced their operations in the region, citing security assessments as the reason for their decisions.

Previously, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued warnings advising airlines to avoid Iranian, Israeli, and Lebanese airspace altogether. 

If the situation in the region escalates further, similar warnings, restrictions, or outright airspace closures are likely to be announced by various aviation authorities.