Singapore Airlines, Scoot flights avoid Iranian airspace amid escalating tensions in Middle East
SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost arm Scoot had stopped flying over Iranian air space since August 2024, SIA said in response to measures being taken following Israel's strikes on targets in Iran.
A spokesperson for SIA told The Straits Times that all SIA and Scoot flights have used alternative flight paths since Aug 2, 2024.
A spokesperson for the SIA Group said its top priority is the safety of customers and its employees.
'We will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East closely and will adjust our flight paths as needed,' the spokesperson added.
Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran on June 13, in a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The strikes targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders. Israel said it was the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
In retaliation, Iran launched about 100 drones towards Israeli territory. It warned that it has a 'legal and legitimate right' to respond to the attacks on multiple cities and nuclear facilities.
SIA Group said it regularly reviews the flight paths taken by aircraft based on multiple factors.
'These include weather conditions, safety and security considerations, advisories from international and regional bodies, insights from independent external security consultants, and regulatory restrictions,' said the spokesperson.
Israeli flag carrier El Al said it had suspended flights to and from Israel.
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel's air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
Iranian airspace has also been closed, according to state media and notices to pilots.
Iraq early on June 13 closed its airspace and suspended all traffic at its airports, Iraqi state media reported.
Eastern Iraq near the border with Iran contains one of the world's busiest air corridors, with dozens of flights crossing between Europe and the Gulf, many on routes from Asia to Europe, at any one moment.
Flights steadily diverted over Central Asia or Saudi Arabia, flight tracking data showed.
Jordan, which sits between Israel and Iraq, closed its airspace several hours after the Israeli campaign began.
Vanessa Paige Chelvan is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes about all things transport and pens the occasional commentary.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
33 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Israel's strikes on Iran's most important nuclear facilities: Here's what you need to know about them
Israel's strikes on Iran's most important nuclear facilities: Here's what you need to know about them Iran's nuclear industry is well-established, with important centres spread over the country, and some buried deep underground, to protect from the kind of aerial attack Israel has just launched. Here are the main centres of Iran's nuclear programme: Natanz Roughly 225km south of Tehran, the capital, Natanz is considered Iran's main centre for uranium enrichment, and it was a prime target of the Israeli strikes. The damage to it appeared to be severe. It is only partially underground and was recently reinforced. It contains a range of sophisticated centrifuges, including the most advanced models, for enriching uranium to high levels. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog, says there are nearly 14,000 centrifuges at work there, with thousands more in place but inactive. Uranium enriched at low levels can be used as fuel for civilian uses, such as producing energy. Highly enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear weapons. Natanz has been targeted in the past, with a computer virus, Stuxnet, some 15 years ago, and with sabotage and explosions as recently as 2021. Iran has always repaired the damage and increased the sophistication of its centrifuges. Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, confirmed on June 13 that Natanz had been hit but said that no radiation leak had been detected so far. He condemned attacks on nuclear facilities in general, as he has done in Ukraine, as very dangerous. 'Any military action that jeopardises the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region and beyond,' he told the agency's board of governors in Vienna. Fordo Iran's best-protected nuclear site, Fordo, near the city of Qom, is deep inside a mountain, estimated to be about 800 metres below ground to protect it from bombing. Israel did not appear to have attacked it. To do so would require repeated use of huge 'bunker buster' bombs, and most experts think that cannot be done by Israel alone, without US help. Fordo was operated secretly by Iran until it was exposed in 2009. It contains Iran's most advanced centrifuges and is considered crucial for Iran to enrich uranium to 60 per cent, close to bomb grade. It is said to contain close to 3,000 sophisticated centrifuges, more than half of them the most modern type, with the capacity to install at least 1,000 more. Parchin Parchin is a military complex south-east of Tehran, where Iran has tested high explosives, which can be used as triggers for nuclear warheads. It is widely suspected that the site was used in the past by Iran in efforts to weaponise enriched uranium. Iran has denied ever doing nuclear work there but has refused to allow the IAEA access it has demanded. Bushehr Bushehr is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant. Located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, it uses Russian fuel that Russia then takes back when it is spent. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
34 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Loyang Valley condo makes third bid at collective sale with lower reserve price of $880 million
The lower collective sale reserve price of Changi's Loyang Valley condominium is $100 million less than its last tender in 2022. ST PHOTO: JOYCE LIM Loyang Valley condo makes third bid at collective sale with lower reserve price of $880 million SINGAPORE – Loyang Valley condominium in Changi will be making a third attempt at a collective sale, with a reduced reserve price of $880 million. The lower reserve price, which is $100 million less than its last tender in 2022, 'reflects a realistic and achievable figure given current market conditions', said Mr Terence Lian, head of investment sales for the appointed marketing agent, Huttons Asia. In 2022, the collective sale committee initially proposed a reserve price of $880 million but raised it to $980 million after some owners sought higher returns. No bids were received when the tender closed on Dec 15 that year. In May 2025, Mr Lian and his team of property salespeople successfully obtained the requisite 80 per cent mandate to proceed with the collective sale. The public tender for Loyang Valley is expected to launch on July 8 and close on Aug 26. The 362-unit condominium in Changi, built in 1985, is a sprawling resort-style estate spanning 840,648 sq ft, with 56 years remaining on its 99-year lease. This round marks a significant shift in seller expectations, noted Mr Lian. 'Several factors have motivated owners to support the collective sale, including lease decay, ongoing maintenance issues associated with the ageing property, the opportunity to unlock asset value with a premium, and considerations related to legacy planning,' he said. 'The confirmed Cross Island Line's Loyang MRT station was factored into our analysis and positively influenced the site's future potential.' At $880 million, the owner of the smallest two-bedroom unit of 1,001 sq ft stands to receive about $1.67 million, while the owner of the largest four-bedroom unit can get about $3.9 million, he said. One owner, who has been living in Loyang Valley since 1985, told The Straits Times that he expects to get more than $2 million for his 1,500 sq ft unit. The retiree, who asked not to be named, had paid less than $300,000 for his unit. He said he plans to use the proceeds to buy a four-room Housing Board flat in the vicinity, go on holidays and save the rest. 'I have a feeling the sale will go through this time, after the Government announced that it will lift the height restrictions for buildings around this area,' he said . Mr Alan Cheong, executive director of research and consultancy at Savills Singapore, said that while there has been talk of easing height restrictions near Changi Airport, the specifics have yet to be confirmed. On June 25, the Urban Redevelopment Authority will be unveiling the Draft Master Plan 2025, which will provide clarity on the gross plot ratio and updated zoning for the site. Under the 2019 Master Plan, the site is zoned for residential use and has a gross plot ratio of 1.6. It can yield approximately 1.35 million sq ft of gross floor area upon redevelopment. A new development on the site can accommodate up to 1,249 residential units, averaging 1,076 sq ft each, subject to planning approval. Mr Cheong said the $880 million price tag is reasonable given the land size, though developers will have to assess the risk of launching a project with more than 1,200 units. 'Still, two factors are in their favour,' he noted. 'One – by the time (the new development) is launched for sale by the developer, probably in 2027, there would have been a lack of new condominium launches in the Loyang area for over three years. This would have created pent-up demand to be discharged into this project,' said Mr Cheong. 'Second, if the sale is successful, by the time the new development is completed, the Loyang MRT station serving the Cross Island Line would be completed and located just adjacent to the site. The developer could then hype his project using this unique selling point. Then, a higher selling price, even with over 1,200 units, would be palatable.' Mr Lian said: 'While developer appetite for large leasehold sites in the eastern region remains measured, interest is gradually picking up as infrastructure and surrounding industrial developments evolve.' He explained that the failed 2022 tender came amid a slew of headwinds such as interest rate hikes, construction cost inflation, additional buyer's stamp duty risks, and increased land and development charges. Market conditions have since improved. Interest rates are starting to ease, and major infrastructure projects in the east, like Changi Airport's Terminal 5, are boosting the site's long-term growth potential and appeal to developers and investors alike, said Mr Lian. Loyang Valley first attempted a collective sale in 2018 at $750 million, but failed to gather sufficient support. Its 2022 exercise saw stronger backing, spurred by confirmation of the Cross Island Line and growing awareness of the redevelopment potential. But the high reserve price proved a stumbling block. Now, with momentum on their side, home owners ST spoke to believe the third time is the charm. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
43 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
At UN, Iran accuses US of being complicit in Israeli strikes, World News
UNITED NATIONS - Iran accused the United States of being complicit in Israel's attacks on the Islamic Republic, which Washington denied, telling Tehran at the United Nations Security Council that it would "be wise" to negotiate over its nuclear programme. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel late on Friday (June 13) after Israel attacked Iran earlier in the day. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Iran had been "preparing for war" and Israel's strikes were "an act of national preservation." His Iranian counterpart, Amir Saeid Iravani, accused Israel of seeking "to kill diplomacy, to sabotage negotiations, and to drag the region into wider conflict," and he said Washington's complicity was "beyond doubt". "Those who support this regime, with the United States at the forefront, must understand that they are complicit," Iravani told the Security Council. "By aiding and enabling these crimes, they share full responsibility for the consequences." US President Donald Trump said Friday that he had given Tehran a 60-day ultimatum, which expired on Thursday, to make a deal over its escalating uranium enrichment programme. A sixth round of US-Iran talks had been scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, but it was unclear whether it would go ahead. Danon said Israel had been patient despite mounting risks. "We waited for diplomacy to work ... We watched negotiations stretch on, as Iran made false concessions or refused the most fundamental conditions," Danon told the Security Council. He said intelligence had confirmed Iran could have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs within days. Senior US official McCoy Pitt said the United States will continue to seek a diplomatic resolution that ensures Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon or pose a threat to stability in the Middle East. "Iran's leadership would be wise to negotiate at this time," Pitt told the council. While Washington was informed of Israel's initial strikes ahead of time it was not militarily involved, he said. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed, and that Iran has reported that nuclear sites at Fordow and Isfahan were also attacked. [[nid:719066]]
