ANKARA: Turkish-owned carriers Turkish Airlines and Pegasus have suspended flights to Iran until November 1, local media said on Wednesday, as Iran braces for a promised retaliatory attack by Israel.
Both airlines have canceled flights to multiple Iranian cities including the capital Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan for “security reasons,” Turkish broadcaster NTV reported.
The firms have yet to confirm the decision on their websites and social media.
But Turkish Airlines travel to Iran was showing as “canceled” on the website of Istanbul’s airport, while Pegasus closed online bookings to Iran.
Iran has been bracing for retaliatory attack vowed by Israel after Tehran launched a barrage of around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1.
Turkish Airlines in August canceled night flights to Tehran, as fears mounted of an escalation in the Middle East, without officially announcing the decision.
Several carriers including German group Lufthansa have stopped flying to Tehran and the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Turkish Airlines, Pegasus halt flights to Iran until November 1
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Turkish Airlines, Pegasus halt flights to Iran until November 1
- Both airlines have canceled flights to multiple Iranian cities including the capital Tehran
- Turkish Airlines travel to Iran was showing as “canceled” on the website of Istanbul’s airport
Italy urges its citizens to leave Iran, be vigilant across Middle East
- The ministry said travel to Iraq and Lebanon was also strongly discouraged
- It advised Italian nationals in Israel to exercise maximum caution
ROME: Italy’s foreign ministry on Friday urged its citizens to leave Iran and advised extreme caution across the Middle East, citing persistently unstable security conditions.
“Italians in (Iran) for tourism or whose presence is not strictly necessary are urged to depart,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that travel to Iraq and Lebanon was also strongly discouraged.
It advised Italian nationals in Israel to exercise maximum caution and remain vigilant.
Several governments have issued similar warnings in recent days. Britain said on Friday it had temporarily withdrawn its staff from Iran and closed its embassy amid rising regional tensions.
The United States has built up a large military presence across the Middle East ahead of a possible strike on Iran, as talks between the two countries over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions continue with no sign of a breakthrough.
