Red Sea & Bab el-Mandeb
Live status & airspace monitoring
The Red Sea corridor and Bab el-Mandeb strait have been subject to elevated aviation operational considerations since late 2023. EASA CZIB and FAA advisories apply to Yemeni airspace (OYSC). Adjacent FIRs — Eritrea (HHAA), Djibouti (HDAM), Saudi Arabia (OEJD south), Somalia (HCSM) — have all issued or received corresponding guidance. Operator reroutings have reshaped Europe–East Africa flow.
Executive summary
No material change since the previous review: Khartoum FIR (HSSS) and Sanaa FIR (OYSC) remain effectively closed with zero commercial traffic detected since 2026-03-31 per FlySafe Sentinel FIR Status Detection. This continued absence of overflight traffic forces rerouting around the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint, adding significant flight time and fuel burn for carriers operating between Europe/Asia and East Africa. The key signal to watch in the next review window is whether any state-issued NOTAM or AIP entry formalizes the current de facto closure, providing regulatory clarity for operators.
FIR-by-FIR status
| ICAO | Status | Last change | Source | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSSS | Effectively closed | 2026-03-31 | FlySafe Sentinel traffic anomaly detection — zero aircraft for 0+ days (4 consecutive zero snapshots in 24h) | 2026-06-02T03:06:01.213Z |
| OYSC | Effectively closed | 2026-03-31 | FlySafe Sentinel traffic anomaly detection — zero aircraft for 3+ days (48 consecutive zero snapshots in 24h) | 2026-06-02T03:06:01.213Z |
Regulatory context
No formal regulatory closure has been identified for Khartoum FIR (HSSS) or Sanaa FIR (OYSC). Operators should reference ICAO Annex 11, Chapter 4, regarding flight information service responsibilities, and ICAO Annex 15, Chapter 5, for NOTAM obligations. Per FAA AC 91-70B, Section 5, operators conducting international flights should assess hostile action risks when overflying conflict zones. EU operators should consult EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIBs) for region-specific advisories. AIP entries for this FIR not currently captured; refer to state authority directly.
Source lineage
- FlySafe Sentinel FIR Status Detection retrieved 2026-06-02T03:06:01.213Z
- FlySafe Sentinel FIR Metadata retrieved 2026-06-02T03:06:01.756Z
- FlySafe Sentinel Traffic Snapshot retrieved 2026-06-02T03:06:01.822Z
Update Log
- 2026-06-02 Status verified. Source lineage refreshed.
- 2026-05-29 Status verified. Source lineage refreshed.
- 2026-05-19 Status verified. Source lineage refreshed.
- 2026-05-09 Migrated to FlySafe Sentinel continuous monitoring.
- 2026-04-23 Briefing registered for content-freshness monitoring.
Red Sea / Bab el-Mandeb — Frequently Asked Questions
Common search queries answered with current status, FIR codes, and source citations.
- Is the Red Sea / Bab el-Mandeb corridor open for commercial flights in 2026?
- OYSC (Sanaa FIR) and adjacent corridor airspace are subject to active EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletins and FAA notices. Many international operators avoid OYSC and use alternative corridors via Saudi Arabia (OEJD) or via the Persian Gulf. Status is updated continuously from EASA, FAA, and operator advisories.
- Which FIRs are affected in the Bab el-Mandeb / southern Red Sea?
- Primarily OYSC (Sanaa FIR) covering Yemen, with proximity considerations for HEEE / HECC (Egypt — northern Red Sea) and HAAA (Ethiopia). Carriers route around OYSC via OEJD (Jeddah) corridors or via Persian Gulf airways depending on origin–destination pair.
- Are flights to and from the Gulf affected by the Red Sea situation?
- Persian Gulf hub operations (DXB, DOH, AUH, RUH) continue at scheduled frequency. Specific routings between Europe / Africa and the Gulf may detour around OYSC, adding flight time. Carriers operating to and from East Africa via OYSC have adjusted routings or schedules. Operational decisions are made by individual operators.
- What FIR codes cover the Red Sea corridor?
- OYSC (Sanaa FIR) covers Yemen and the southern Red Sea. HEEE / HECC (Cairo FIR) cover the northern Red Sea. Adjacent FIRs include HAAA (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and HSSS (Khartoum, Sudan — currently restricted). All four-letter ICAO designators are referenced in NOTAMs and EASA CZIBs.
FlySafe provides automated computation of numerical indices from publicly available data. Indices are raw computational output and do not represent opinions, assessments, recommendations, or advice of any kind. They do not replace official NOTAMs, SIGMETs, AIPs, or communications from aviation authorities. Operators must independently verify current airspace status through official channels. See Terms of Service for full details.