Armenia
Risk Level: Three - Caution
[ about risk levels ]
March 2026: Armenian airspace (UDDD/Yerevan FIR) remains open and is currently seeing increased traffic as flights reroute north around the closed Middle East corridor following US and Israeli strikes on Iran beginning Feb 28. The Armenia-Azerbaijan corridor has become one of the main bypass routes linking Europe with Asia.
See OPSGROUP Briefing: Middle East airspace situation - March 2026
On March 5, Iranian drones crossed into Azerbaijan and one struck the terminal building at UBBN/Nakhchivan airport. A Notam temporarily closed the southern sector of the UBBA/Baku FIR around Nakhchivan, but the overflight routes through the main parts of the UDDD and UBBA FIRs remain available.
Following the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sep 2023, cross-border waypoints reopened after military conflict in the border region. Although tensions remain between the two countries, the airspace has generally remained open since then and is now being used heavily by international traffic avoiding closures further south.
The primary risk is potential spillover from the current Iran conflict into the southern Caucasus region, including missile or drone activity crossing the Iran-Azerbaijan border. There also remains a background risk from renewed military tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan near the border region.
Major events:
March 2026: Iranian drones crossed into Azerbaijan and struck the terminal building at UBBN/Nakhchivan airport; the southern sector of the UBBA/Baku FIR temporarily closed.
Sep 2023: Ceasefire agreed between Armenia and Azerbaijan following fighting in the border region; cross-border waypoints reopened.
Sep 2022: Clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan temporarily closed border waypoints.
Sep-Oct 2020: War between Armenia and Azerbaijan led to large areas of closed airspace and warnings of missile threats.
See OPSGROUP Briefing: Middle East airspace situation - March 2026
On March 5, Iranian drones crossed into Azerbaijan and one struck the terminal building at UBBN/Nakhchivan airport. A Notam temporarily closed the southern sector of the UBBA/Baku FIR around Nakhchivan, but the overflight routes through the main parts of the UDDD and UBBA FIRs remain available.
Following the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sep 2023, cross-border waypoints reopened after military conflict in the border region. Although tensions remain between the two countries, the airspace has generally remained open since then and is now being used heavily by international traffic avoiding closures further south.
The primary risk is potential spillover from the current Iran conflict into the southern Caucasus region, including missile or drone activity crossing the Iran-Azerbaijan border. There also remains a background risk from renewed military tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan near the border region.
Major events:
March 2026: Iranian drones crossed into Azerbaijan and struck the terminal building at UBBN/Nakhchivan airport; the southern sector of the UBBA/Baku FIR temporarily closed.
Sep 2023: Ceasefire agreed between Armenia and Azerbaijan following fighting in the border region; cross-border waypoints reopened.
Sep 2022: Clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan temporarily closed border waypoints.
Sep-Oct 2020: War between Armenia and Azerbaijan led to large areas of closed airspace and warnings of missile threats.
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | AIC 21/25 | 15 Sep 2022 | Ongoing |
Source: Canada
Reference: AIC 21/25
Issued: 15-Sep-22, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Caution advised to Canadian operators in the airspace of Armenia due to potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry and military ops.
Level 1 (Information)
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN. Canadian air operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are advised to take all potential risk information into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions when operating in FIR Yerevan Zvartnots (UDDD), and FIR Baku (UBBA). Potential risks from anti-aviation weaponry and military activity along the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN. Canadian air operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are advised to take all potential risk information into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions when operating in FIR Yerevan Zvartnots (UDDD), and FIR Baku (UBBA). Potential risks from anti-aviation weaponry and military activity along the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan