The Lufthansa Group will resume flights to Larnaca, Cyprus, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This follows a stabilization of the security situation in the EU island nation after a British military base on the island was targeted in a drone attack.
Despite this partial reopening, the group, which also includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss, and Brussels Airlines, remains extremely cautious regarding its destinations in the immediate conflict region. Flights to Cyprus are resuming under close monitoring of the corridors in the eastern Mediterranean, while large parts of the adjacent airspace remain closed due to the hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the USA.
The suspension of flights to the Gulf States and the Middle East has been extended, in some cases considerably. While flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam will remain suspended until at least March 10, flights to the Jordanian capital, Amman, and Erbil in northern Iraq are paused until at least March 15. Particularly critical destinations are affected by even longer-term cancellations: Tel Aviv will not be served until March 22, and Beirut will remain off the schedule until March 28. The most drastic measure concerns the Iranian capital, Tehran, which, due to direct military confrontations and unpredictable missile activity, will not be served until at least April 30, 2026.
Additional reports from aviation circles illustrate the logistical consequences of this decision. The Lufthansa Group is forced to accept significant detours for numerous long-haul flights to Southeast Asia, as Iranian and Iraqi airspace is classified as unsafe. This leads to considerably longer flight times and increased fuel consumption, which intensifies the operational pressure on airlines. EASA safety experts are in constant communication with airline security departments to assess the risks of civilian aircraft being mistakenly shot down by air defense systems in the region. For passengers, this means a period of ongoing instability with short-notice gate changes and cancellations.
Affected passengers are being proactively informed by the respective group companies and are offered options for rebooking or ticket refunds in accordance with applicable passenger rights. However, since partner airlines have also reduced their capacity to the Middle East, finding alternative connections is often difficult. The group emphasizes that the safety of passengers and crew takes precedence over economic considerations. A full return to the regular summer flight schedule is not expected in the industry until a lasting diplomatic de-escalation and a guaranteed reopening of international air routes over the Persian Gulf have been achieved.