Airline pilots must be given final say on flying in war zones, aviators' group says

Pilots must be given a "final and non-negotiable" say allowing them to refuse to fly over or within conflict zones without influence from ‌commercial pressures, global union group International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) said.

The position paper on Monday from IFALPA comes as the six-week-long Iran war is reshaping airspace across the Middle East and increasing disruptions to flights due to drone and missile attacks and interceptions, heightening safety risks for airline crew members and their passengers.

Montreal-based IFALPA said airlines should recognize how conflict zone operations can create mental and emotional strain in the cockpit.

"The Commander’s decision regarding the conduct or rerouting of a flight, including ?refusal to overfly a conflict zone, must be final and non-negotiable," the paper said. "Additionally, this decision must not be influenced by financial or other incentives, career repercussions or other penalties, or commercial pressures."

While many carriers have canceled services to affected destinations, Dubai-based Emirates is now operating at about 69% of its normal capacity and Qatar Airways at 26%, according to Flightradar24 data. That equates to hundreds of flights per day in airspace that has been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones.

Reuters