FAA drops ban on flights over the Persian Gulf
The Federal Aviation Administration said civilian flights from the U.S. can once again overfly the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, a move that comes as military tensions between the U.S. and Iran have ratcheted down.
The FAA cited Iranian military de-escalation as the reason for the change.
"The FAA assesses there is sufficiently reduced risk of Iranian military miscalculation or misidentification that could affect U.S. civil aviation operations in the overwater airspace above the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman," the agency said in a statement.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news.
The FAA's update coincides with a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) advising that civil flight operations can resume over the Gulf.
The FAA initially barred U.S. pilots and flights from the region after conflict with Iran spilled over into aviation. That came Jan. 8, when Iranian forces mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner bound for Kiev. The incident came shortly after Iran had fired missiles at U.S. military installations in Iraq in retaliation for a Jan. 3 drone strike by the U.S. that killed an Iranian general
The FAA's ban affected U.S. pilots and commercial flights by U.S. airlines. Though no U.S. passenger carriers currently operate routes that regularly overfly the region, cargo operators like FedEx and UPS do, and the FAA's guidance is frequently followed by aviation authorities in other parts of the world.
Allowing flights to resume over the Persian Gulf eases a potential logistical challenge for airlines flying between the U.S. and the Middle East. For airlines that opted to adhere to the FAA's airspace restriction, flights from the region faced circuitous routings that avoided the Gulf and parts of Iran and Iraq.
While the latest update permits U.S. civilian aircraft to traverse overwater Gulf routes, the airspace over Iran and Iraq remains a concern for the FAA.
The agency banned U.S. airlines from airspace over Iraq, Iran and the Gulf in early January amid a rising threat of armed conflict in the region.
Even with the new guidance, the FAA cautioned airspace over the Gulf – particularly near Iran – remains somewhat unstable.
"The situation in the region remains fluid and could quickly escalate if circumstances change," the document said.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.