Iran's airspace serves as a strategically crucial East-West aviation corridor, providing the most direct routes for flights connecting Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. This pathway significantly reduces flight times and fuel consumption for numerous international carriers. For Indian airlines, its importance is further magnified due to the ongoing restrictions on using Pakistani airspace for westbound flights, making the Iranian route a primary option for services to Europe, Central Asia, and the United States. However, this vital airspace is frequently affected by geopolitical instability and heightened regional tensions. Most recently, Iranian authorities ordered a temporary, five-hour closure of its airspace on January 14-15, 2026, without public explanation, forcing airlines worldwide to reroute or cancel services. Major carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, experienced significant disruptions, leading to delays and cancellations for their long-haul flights. Several European airlines such as Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, Finnair, Wizz Air, and Ryanair also opted to avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace, even after the formal reopening, extending routings over Afghanistan, Central Asia, or further south over the Arabian Peninsula. This avoidance is often prompted by advisories from aviation safety bodies. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Germany's national air traffic control authority, for instance, have issued warnings recommending airlines avoid Iranian airspace due to the high risk posed by the presence of advanced air defense systems and the potential for misidentification of civil aircraft during periods of military alert. A tragic precedent was set in January 2020 when Iranian air defense forces mistakenly shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing all 176 people on board, highlighting the severe dangers to civil aviation in such volatile conditions. The recurring nature of these shutdowns and advisories underscores the ongoing challenges airlines face in maintaining safe and efficient global travel.