Due to Middle East tensions, Australian airline Qantas canceled its non-stop Perth to London flight on Thursday, citing the decision as a “precaution”.
The aircraft, which typically travels a nonstop 17 and a half hours, will now refuel in Singapore, enabling it to transport a full complement of people by avoiding contentious airspace.
The airline has been forced to reroute flights because of upheaval in the Middle East twice this year.
Because of the prevailing winds, the return flight from London to Perth will continue to operate nonstop on a modified route.
Qantas joins other airlines including Lufthansa in redirecting flights from the area.
The region is bracing for a military retaliation from Iran against Israel, following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, last week in Tehran.
Along with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Iran both accused Israel of carrying out the murder and pledged to retaliate.
Israel has not denied or verified that it was responsible for Haniyeh’s death.
