Since 2022, closed airspace has made many long-haul routes longer and more complicated. Here is what changed, how FlightDetour measures the impact, and what the scores actually mean.
Russia closed its airspace to Western airlines in February 2022. Most long-haul flights from Europe to Asia used to go straight over Russia — they cannot any more. A London to Tokyo flight that once took 12 hours now takes 14 to 17, going around through Central Asia or the Gulf instead.
The Middle East adds another layer. Conflict across the region has put parts of Iranian, Iraqi, and Levant airspace under official flight warnings. Gulf airports are still open, but some routes in and out of them are more complicated than they used to be.
Not all routes are affected equally. Some paths avoid closed areas completely. Others go right through them. Which one you book can make a real difference — especially if you want options if the situation changes.
FlightDetour compares the main route alternatives for affected trips. It scores each path by how much closed airspace it crosses, how many backup options exist, and how good those alternatives are. It turns public aviation safety information into simple scores you can compare before booking.
It is not a booking site, a live flight tracker, or an official safety warning. Every score shows how old it is — so you know how much to trust it.
Each route gets a score from 0 to 100. Higher means better right now — not safer in some absolute way. The score combines five things about the route.
Closed airspace
Does the route go through or near an area that is officially closed? This matters most. A route that crosses a closed zone gets a lower score no matter how good it is in other ways.
Backup routes
Are there other ways to fly this trip if this path gets worse? Routes with only one option score lower.
Stop quality
For routes with a stop, how good is the airport in between? Airports near conflict zones or with known problems score lower.
Extra time
Does the route add a lot of extra time compared to a more direct path?
Airline options
How many airlines fly this route? Fewer airlines means it's harder to rebook if something goes wrong.
Score bands
No closed airspace. Several route options. Good to book.
Worth keeping an eye on. Near closed airspace, or fewer route options.
Some problems. Goes near or through closed airspace. Fewer reroute options.
Goes through closed airspace, or very few other routes. Check carefully before booking.
A flight warning zone is an area of sky that official bodies have flagged as having real risks — usually because of a nearby conflict, missile activity, or military operations. The main source we use is EASA, the European flight safety body.
This is not a ban. Airlines can still fly through or near these areas, sometimes with extra precautions. But official bodies have noted real risks, and routes going through them score lower.
How we show airspace on each route
No flight warnings on this route. No closed airspace.
Goes close to a warning area but not through it.
Goes through a flight warning zone. Check with your airline before booking.
Goes through an active conflict area. Check your airline carefully before booking.
A score is only useful if it is up to date. We track two things: when we last checked the warning pages, and when a person last looked at the route score itself.
A score can go old even if nothing has changed on the warning pages — because it still needs a human to look at it regularly. We show both so you know how much to trust it.
Checked within 7 days. Nothing has changed.
8 to 30 days old. Probably still right — but check before you book.
Not updated in over 30 days. Use as a rough guide only. Check with your airline.
A warning changed after we last checked. The score may not be right any more.
Route scores show when they were last reviewed. If a warning changes after a route was reviewed, the route is flagged so you know to check it carefully before booking.
A higher score means a route looks better right now — not that it is safe in every way. FlightDetour does not look at mechanical problems, airline reliability, or weather.
We cover the main long-haul routes where closed airspace matters. If your route is not listed, that is a gap in our coverage — not a sign that everything is fine.
Automatic checks can miss things. If a warning page changes its layout, we may not notice until someone fixes it. That is why every score shows how old it is — so you know how much to trust it.
FlightDetour is most useful when you have more than one route option for the same trip. For example: via Dubai, via Istanbul, or via Singapore for a Europe to Asia flight. It shows you which path avoids closed airspace and has better backup options.
Before booking, always check your government's travel advice — UK FCDO, US State Department, Australian DFAT, or similar — and your airline's own notices. Those are the official sources. FlightDetour is a quick first check, not a replacement for them.
For reference only. Check with your airline and government before booking.