Lufthansa postpones flights to the Middle Eastern sector until September.
Given the volatile scenario in the Middle East, Lufthansa is temporarily limiting its air services to the region until late September. The carriers won't be operating to Tel Aviv, Israel, or Teheran, Iran before September 2nd, as confirmed by Lufthansa on Friday. In contrast, flights to Beirut, Lebanon, are halted until the end of September.
However, Lufthansa's airlines are resuming their operations to Amman, Jordan, and Erbil, northern Iraq, starting from August 27th. For Erbil flights, Lufthansa plans to employ a "northern corridor within Iraqi airspace," as they further announced.
Comprising EUROWINGS, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, and Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa Group initially indicated that their aircraft would steer clear of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, up until August 26th.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza after Hamas's extensive attack on October 7th, skirmishes between Iranian-allied Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Israeli military have escalated significantly. Post the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon towards the end of July, apprehensions of an intensification in the hostilities are mounting. Both Iran and its allies have threatened Israel with retaliation.
Given the escalating tensions between Iran, its allies, and Israel, Lufthansa finds it necessary to reassess its flight plans. The situation in the Middle East necessitates restraint in air services, and Lufthansa has decided to maintain this stance until late September, affecting several regional destinations.
