LONDON: Jordan has asked all international airlines landing at its airports to carry 45 minutes of extra fuel, in what experts see as a precautionary measure in case of an attack by Iran against Israel.
Some airlines are already avoiding Lebanese and Iranian airspace and cancelled flights to Israel and Lebanon, as concerns grow over a possible conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah last week.
The NOTAM, a safety notice provided to pilots, has been issued by Jordanian authorities, asking all airlines to carry the extra fuel for “operational reasons.” It is effective until Tuesday.
In a bulletin, OPSGROUP, a membership-based organization that shares risk information, said the measure was ahead of the anticipated closure of Jordanian airspace.
“The Jordan NOTAM is relevant because, in the April aerial attack on Israel, Jordan was the first country to close their airspace by NOTAM, well ahead of even Israel, Iran, or Iraq,” Mark Zee, OPSGROUP’s Chief Executive, told media.
“The 45 minutes would be intended to provide enough additional fuel for an aircraft to leave Jordanian airspace and land elsewhere,” he added.
