While large parts of the European aviation industry continue to exercise caution due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, Air France is pushing for a comparatively rapid return to the region.
The French national airline plans to resume service to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as early as May 26, 2026. Shortly thereafter, on June 3, the destinations of Beirut, Dubai, and Tel Aviv are also scheduled to be fully integrated back into the flight schedule. This puts Air France significantly ahead of its closest competitors in the market, which industry experts attribute to a specific risk assessment and close coordination with French security authorities.
In contrast, British Airways is pursuing a much more conservative course and has once again extended the suspension of flights to strategically important destinations. According to current plans, services to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv will not resume until August 1, 2026, at the earliest. The British airline typically justifies such delays by citing the need to ensure the safety of crew and passengers, as well as the operational stability of its network under volatile conditions. This difference in scheduling underscores the differing assessments of the security situation within the major European airline alliances.
Lufthansa is adhering to an even more cautious timetable and maintaining its previously announced consolidation strategy. Flights to Dubai will remain suspended until at least mid-September 2026, while other destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Muscat will not be served until October 24. Lufthansa is only considering resuming flights to Tel Aviv in July, provided the situation remains stable. These extensive cancellations mean that passengers from German-speaking countries are currently increasingly having to rely on connecting flights via Paris or other hubs to reach the Middle East.
The diverging strategies have a direct impact on market shares in the business and leisure travel sectors for the 2026 winter season. While Air France is securing capacity and creating booking certainty for early summer through its early restart, British Airways and Lufthansa are focusing on long-term risk minimization. Aviation analysts are closely monitoring how insurance premiums for flights to this region develop, as these have a significant influence on the profitability of the resumed routes. Coordinating flight corridors via third countries remains a key logistical challenge for all affected carriers.