<h1>Closure of Iranian airspace forces airlines to reroute international flights, causing cancellations, longer routes and higher operating costs</h1> The closure of Iranian sovereign airspace has been imposed, resulting in the suspension of overflight rights through that airspace; consequentially carriers have rerouted affected international services, causing flight cancellations, extended routings, and schedule delays. Airlines report increased operational costs and fuel burn due to longer trajectories and altered flight planning, and certain long-haul services (notably some US flights) are rendered operationally unviable on alternative routings because of aircraft fuel-range constraints, leading to outright cancellations. Safety considerations have prompted immediate diversion or return of affected flights and attendant passenger disruption, and some aircraft have incurred damage during unscheduled operations.