Iran has announced a partial reopening of its airspace following a seven-week closure caused by the ongoing Middle East war, state media reported on Saturday.
The closure, imposed after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory in early March, had forced international airlines to reroute flights around Iranian airspace entirely. Routes between Asia and Europe — including those transiting through Colombo — were among the worst affected, with significant increases in flight times and fuel costs.
The partial reopening allows certain corridors to resume operations, though the full extent of accessible airspace has not been specified. Iran’s aviation authority said the decision was taken following a review of safety conditions.
However, the airspace move stands in contrast to the IRGC’s reversal on Hormuz, where maritime access was restricted again within 24 hours of being declared open. The disconnect between diplomatic signals and operational realities has been a recurring pattern in the conflict.
For Sri Lanka’s aviation sector, the partial reopening could offer some relief. SriLankan Airlines and Gulf carriers serving Colombo have faced extended routing costs since the closure began. Kuwait Airways recently launched weekly Colombo flights, while carriers continue to assess the viability of regional routes.
The announcement comes as broader ceasefire negotiations continue ahead of Monday’s second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad and Iran’s Hormuz Strait remains a flashpoint.
