Iran has reopened its airspace after a temporary closure forced airlines to reroute their flights as tensions with the US escalate. The move comes after Germany issued a new directive cautioning its airlines against entering Iranian airspace, citing escalating tensions in the region.
Lufthansa, one of the largest European carriers, announced that it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice, while only operating daytime flights to Tel Aviv and Amman from Wednesday until Monday next week. The airline also warned that some flights could be canceled as a result of these actions.
The decision was made following nationwide anti-government protests in Iran that began at the end of last year over economic hardships. The protests have since spiralled out of control, with several protesters reported killed, and authorities attempting to curb the unrest by blacking out the internet.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in support of protesters in Iran, adding to the region's geopolitical tensions. The situation has also led to volatility in markets, with investors piling into safe-haven assets such as gold and the dollar.
The German airline group, Lufthansa, said that affected passengers would be automatically rebooked and proactively contacted, while crew members flying into Israel and Amman would return directly without an overnight stay on site. Similarly, Italian carrier ITA Airways has suspended night flights to Tel Aviv until Tuesday next week.
Other airlines, such as flydubai and Turkish Airlines, have also cancelled multiple flights to Iran in the past week. The temporary closure of Iranian airspace is a significant blow to regional air travel, with many airlines forced to reroute their flights to avoid the country's skies.
Lufthansa, one of the largest European carriers, announced that it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice, while only operating daytime flights to Tel Aviv and Amman from Wednesday until Monday next week. The airline also warned that some flights could be canceled as a result of these actions.
The decision was made following nationwide anti-government protests in Iran that began at the end of last year over economic hardships. The protests have since spiralled out of control, with several protesters reported killed, and authorities attempting to curb the unrest by blacking out the internet.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in support of protesters in Iran, adding to the region's geopolitical tensions. The situation has also led to volatility in markets, with investors piling into safe-haven assets such as gold and the dollar.
The German airline group, Lufthansa, said that affected passengers would be automatically rebooked and proactively contacted, while crew members flying into Israel and Amman would return directly without an overnight stay on site. Similarly, Italian carrier ITA Airways has suspended night flights to Tel Aviv until Tuesday next week.
Other airlines, such as flydubai and Turkish Airlines, have also cancelled multiple flights to Iran in the past week. The temporary closure of Iranian airspace is a significant blow to regional air travel, with many airlines forced to reroute their flights to avoid the country's skies.