This has to be the most self centred question of the year but I'm about to book tickets from Australia to Europe (Italy, Greece) and I'm wondering about routes over places like Israel, Russia, Ukraine, etc. Are airlines such as Emirates, Qatar, Finnair, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, etc, etc, avoiding the airspace of these countries and others with current conflicts? Am I getting myself in a knot about nothing? I'm a bit of an anxious flyer, despite having done it many times. Your thoughts would be welcome.

sensible thought, many if not all major airlines are avoiding dangers, as they say "us killing a US senator would bust the business"..

NB volcanoes are also bad things

Yes, airlines avoid conflicted airspace and no-fly zones, so the route will reflect those changes.

I honestly think you are more at risk with outdated.ancient air control equipment and airports or aloof/overworked controllers etc. Always a chance of picking up a stray SAM or crazy fighter pilot but not typical. You would be part of a wild, world-altering event however, and be famous.

https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/a...onflict-zones/
https://www.iata.org/en/programs/sec...curity-report/
https://turbli.com/

Nothing new. Years ago flying to the Canary islands the airlines avoided north western Africa because of fears the rebels would shoot.

Thos planes are expensive and airlines like to keep them flying back and forth.

The second of two Malaysian Air planes that went down in 2014 entered a hostile zone that the other airlines were avoiding. It is most common these areas are avoided, but you are counting on the Airlines to follow the Custom of the Trade.

Thank you for your feedback and information. Of course airlines will do their best to keep everyone safe but a little anxious nonetheless with routes such as via Finland, Middle East, etc. I know that issues of this sort have been happening for a long time but things around the world seem to be especially tense in recent times and there are few signs that this will ease. On the other hand, staying home out of fear isn't great either.

This article is from last year, but I saw a local news programme recently where they talked about this problem getting worse;
https://www.theguardian.com/business...ussian-jamming
Not much you can do, I´m afraid.

There is a map for that as well.

https://gpsjam.org/?lat=53.43037&lon...ate=2025-05-26

Flying remains the safest modes of transport, you are more likely to die in a car crash than a plane crash.
Airlines do their very best to avoid losing a plane full of passengers. It costs them a ot of money f they do.

Seriously you can worry about anything in life and forget to live life because of that worry.