Do planes fly over Syria and Iraq? Most do not, some do. Middle East Airlines (MEA) operates a regular flight between Beirut and Dubai that clearly goes over both countries. On the other hand, Dubai-based airlines (FlyDubai, Emirates) avoid both Syrian and Iraqi airspaces.

As of early 2026, the vast majority of international commercial airlines strictly avoid Syrian airspace due to the ongoing risk of military activity and high-altitude anti-aircraft weaponry. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European regulators (EASA) maintain long-standing "Notices to Air Missions" (NOTAMs) prohibiting or strongly discouraging overflights. However, there are exceptions: Syrian Air and Cham Wings Airlines continue to operate within the country, and some regional carriers based in the Middle East—such as Middle East Airlines (MEA) and occasionally certain Iraqi or Iranian carriers—may utilize specific corridors when flying to and from Damascus or Beirut. Most global long-haul carriers (like Emirates, Qatar, or United) reroute flights through Turkish, Egyptian, or Saudi Arabian airspace instead, adding time and fuel costs to ensure passenger safety away from the conflict zone.