Singapore Airlines and Scoot Resume Flights Over Iranian Airspace Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot have announced the resumption of flights over Iranian airspace, effective from January 29, 2023. The move comes after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) lifted its ban on Iranian airspace in November 2022. The ban was imposed in 2019 due to safety concerns following the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet by Iranian missiles. With the ban now lifted, SIA and Scoot will be able to operate more efficient flight routes, reducing flight times and fuel consumption. This will benefit passengers traveling between Southeast Asia and Europe, as well as cargo shipments between the two regions. SIA will resume daily flights over Iran for its services between Singapore and London, while Scoot will operate four weekly flights over Iran for its services between Singapore and Athens. “The resumption of flights over Iranian airspace will allow SIA and Scoot to operate more efficient flight paths and reduce carbon emissions,” said Lee Lik Hsin, SIA’s Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. “We are committed to providing our customers with the most convenient and sustainable travel options.” Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson added, “This move will benefit our customers by reducing flight times and fares. We are always looking for ways to enhance our services and provide our customers with the best possible travel experience.” The resumption of flights over Iran is a positive development for the aviation industry in Singapore. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to safety and the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the smooth flow of air traffic.In the midst of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the Singapore Airlines (SIA) took precautionary measures by avoiding Iranian airspace on April 14. This decision came after an attack on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of several members of the Revolutionary Guard.In the midst of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the Singapore Airlines (SIA) took precautionary measures by avoiding Iranian airspace on April 14. This decision came after an attack on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of several members of the Revolutionary Guard. SIA’s avoidance of Iranian airspace led to the use of alternative flight routes, resulting in longer flight times between Singapore and most European destinations. The normal flight path over Iran was replaced with an indirect route passing over Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus. The rerouting affected all SIA flights operating from Singapore to major cities in Europe, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, and Zurich. Additionally, flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark airports were also impacted. For instance, a flight from Singapore to London’s Heathrow Airport on April 15 experienced a three-minute flight time increase compared to the average duration of 13 hours and 39 minutes. Despite SIA’s avoidance of Iranian airspace, other airlines continued to use it, including SWISS, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, as observed on Flightradar24.Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot have resumed flights over Iranian airspace, a move that will reduce flying time and improve fuel efficiency for the airlines. SIA said on Monday (Oct 3) that it had received approval from the Iranian authorities to resume overflights of the country’s airspace. Scoot, the budget arm of SIA, also confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 4) that it had resumed flying over Iran. The resumption of flights over Iran comes after a hiatus of more than three years. In January 2020, SIA and Scoot suspended flights over Iranian airspace following the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The resumption of flights over Iran is a significant development for SIA and Scoot, as it will reduce flying time and improve fuel efficiency. For example, SIA’s flights from Singapore to London will now be about 30 minutes shorter, while Scoot’s flights from Singapore to Athens will be about 40 minutes shorter. SIA said in a statement that it is “pleased to be able to resume overflights of Iranian airspace, as this will benefit our customers by reducing flying time and improving fuel efficiency.” Scoot also said that it is “pleased to be able to resume flights over Iran, as this will allow us to offer our customers a more efficient and convenient service.” The resumption of flights over Iran is also a sign of the improving relations between Iran and the West. In recent months, there have been a number of high-level visits between Iran and Western countries, and there have been signs of progress in the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.