The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has caused significant disruptions in international flights to and from Indonesia.
As tensions continue to rise, several countries in the Middle East have imposed airspace closures, which have affected civil aviation in the region.
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that the conflict has led to route diversions, cancellations, and adjustments in flight operations to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, under the Ministry of Transportation, announced the closure of several Flight Information Regions (FIRs) in the Middle East, including those over Cairo, Tel Aviv, Baghdad, Syria, Tehran, Bahrain, and Doha.
In response, several international airlines operating flights to and from Indonesia have been forced to divert their routes, with some flights returning to their base.
“As stated in a number of official NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), several Indonesian international flights have been diverted or returned to base (RTB) to maintain flight safety and security,” said Lukman F. Laisa, Director-General of Civil Aviation, in a press release on Tuesday, June 25, 2025.
Although some airspace restrictions have been lifted, specifically the Bahrain and Qatar FIRs, other regions, such as Cairo, Tel Aviv, Baghdad, Syria, and Tehran, remain either limited or entirely closed for civil aviation. As a result, some foreign airlines have had to alter their schedules to comply with these airspace restrictions.
According to Barindo (Board of Airline Representatives Indonesia), the adjustments made have generally not resulted in major changes to the overall flight schedule, but airlines have been forced to modify routes in response to the updated NOTAMs.
“Generally, the flight schedules have not changed, but airlines have adjusted to the NOTAMs issued by local aviation authorities,” explained Lukman.
“However, there have been cancellations, such as the Doha-CGK route by Garuda Indonesia, which has been affected. PT GIA will re-evaluate flight routes to and from the Middle East region while the conflict is ongoing.”
Garuda Indonesia Suspends Flights to Doha Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
As part of the broader disruptions, Garuda Indonesia has temporarily suspended its flights to Doha, Qatar, until July 1, 2025.
The airline’s decision to halt services is in direct response to the ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East, particularly the closure of Qatar’s airspace by local authorities due to the Iran-Israel conflict.
@cnnindonesia Garuda Indonesia menangguhkan atau menghentikan sementara seluruh layanan penerbangan dari dan menuju Doha, Qatar, hingga 1 Juli 2025 mendatang. #GarudaIndonesia #Qatar ♬ original sound – CNN Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia’s Operations Director, Tumpal M. Hutapea, explained that the temporary suspension was implemented as a safety precaution to protect passengers, crew, and staff members.
“This suspension is in line with the closure of Qatar’s airspace by local authorities in response to the escalating geopolitical conditions in the region,” Hutapea stated in a press release on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
“Garuda Indonesia’s decision to halt all flight services to and from Doha until July 1, 2025, reflects our commitment to prioritising the safety and security of all passengers and personnel during this dynamic situation.”
In addition to suspending flights to Doha, Garuda Indonesia has made arrangements to ensure the safe return of its aircraft and passengers. On June 23, 2025, flight GA-900, which was originally scheduled to fly from Jakarta to Doha, was diverted to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan.
The aircraft landed safely in Medan at 04:22 WIB and later continued its journey back to Jakarta at 05:34 WIB, before reaching Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 08:08 WIB.
Despite these disruptions, Garuda Indonesia’s services to other international destinations, including Jeddah, Medina, and Amsterdam, are continuing as scheduled.
Hutapea reassured the public that the airline remains committed to monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and adjusting its flight paths as needed to ensure the safety of all passengers.
“We continue to conduct intensive monitoring and evaluate flight paths and operational conditions based on the development of the situation,” said Hutapea. “Our priority remains the safety of our passengers, crew, and staff, and we are ready to adapt our services as necessary.”
Cover: Photo/skyteam.com
