Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines to resume flights to Iran

Lufthansa and its low-cost subsidiary Austrian Airlines will resume flights to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) in early March, ending an extended suspension triggered by regional security concerns, IRNA reported on February 23. Saeed Chalandari, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City, confirmed the relaunch, with Lufthansa flights scheduled to begin on March 1 and Austrian Airlines following on March 2. The return of these carriers signals a cautious but essential step towards normalising air traffic between Iran and Europe after months of disruptions. Lufthansa extended its suspension of flights to Tehran until January 31, 2025, citing operational reasons amid ongoing Middle East tensions with Israel. Lufthansa had suspended its Tehran operations several times due to escalating regional tensions. In the wake of Iran’s attack on Israeli territory with around 300 drones and missiles on April 13 and 14, 2024, the German airline initially suspended flights until April 18, later extending this to May 9 due to safety concerns amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.<br/>