Australian airline Qantas has canceled its direct Perth to London flight as a precautionary measure due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The normally non-stop 17.5-hour journey will now include a refueling stop in Singapore, allowing the airline to fully load passengers while avoiding contested airspace.

This marks the second time this year that Qantas has had to reroute flights because of unrest in the region. The return flight from London to Perth will continue its non-stop service but will take a revised path due to prevailing wind conditions.

The decision comes as the Middle East faces heightened tensions following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran last week. Both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of being behind the assassination and, along with Hezbollah, have threatened retaliation. Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement in the incident.

Qantas is following the lead of other airlines, such as Lufthansa, which have also adjusted their flight paths in response to the situation.