As the war in Iran adds to the strains on air corridors from the war in Ukraine, the Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor,” originally developed as a freight transit route linking Europe and Asia, is rapidly gaining attention in civilian and commercial aviation.  This corridor, spanning Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, now serves as an aerial bridge between two continents, reshaping global air traffic routes in response to pending hostilities.

It has been over three years since the onset of the second phase of the war in Ukraine, which has already introduced significant disruptions to air traffic over Eastern Europe and parts of Russia.  The Middle East is now entangled in war as well, with escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran following the targeted Israeli strikes on June 13.  This war, layered upon the volatility in the Levant, has triggered a wave of airspace closures and restrictions across the region.

In particular, Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan have closed their civilian airspaces to commercial flights since the June 13 attacks.  This shutdown has forced airlines and cargo carriers to seek alternative transit routes, given that the usual air corridors through Iraqi and Iranian skies, once a major route for flights connecting Europe and the Middle East, are now inaccessible.

The Middle Corridor, which has a long-standing reputation for providing multimodal freight connectivity to Central Asia via Türkiye and the Caucasus, has become prominent for its aviation transit hubs. This has led to increased safety and operational advantages in an area affected by wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

On June 13 alone, the closures affected approximately 1,800 flights between Europe and the Middle East. These flights were forced to divert either over Central Asian or Saudi Arabian airspace.  According to data from Flightradar24, Middle Eastern carriers, such as Qatar Airways and Emirates, were among the most heavily impacted by the cancellations.  Due to safety concerns, many airlines have now prioritized the Middle Corridor, dramatically increasing air traffic over these transit countries.

The duration and intensity of the Israel-Iran war threaten continued instability that could sustain, or even worsen, airspace closures.  Meanwhile, the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to affect Eastern European air corridors, further limiting options.  Given these challenges, the Middle Corridor is likely to continue as a significant route for both freight and passenger air traffic in the near future. 

The diversion of nearly 1,800 flights on June 13 alone reflects how regional wars impact aviation networks, disrupting conventional transit hubs and elevating new ones.  As the Middle Corridor countries navigate this nascent prominence, their influence in advancing trans-Caspian connectivity will become increasingly crucial in both economic and security terms.