Lufthansa 787-9. Photo: Lufthansa The German airline Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, are set to restart operations to Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) at the beginning of March following a prolonged flight suspension due to security issues in the area.
According to Saeed Chalndari, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport, Lufthansa will resume its route to Tehran on March 1, while Austrian Airlines is set to follow on March 2.
Lufthansa previously halted its operations in Tehran several times due to escalating security tensions in the Middle East, particularly after Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel in April 2024. Initially, the airline suspended its flights until April 18, extending the suspension to May 9 as the conflict intensified. Eventually, Lufthansa extended the flight suspension until January 31, 2025, citing ongoing operational risks.
The recent change in the assessment of airspace security in the region paved the way for the airline's return. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) warning of potential hazards in Iranian airspace, but the advisory expired on January 31 without renewal.
Mohammad Amirani, Head of Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company (IAC), notes that Iranian airspace remains stable, evidenced by more than 700 daily flights without reported incidents.
The return of European airlines comes as Tehran's main international airport reports ongoing recovery in air traffic. In the first eleven months of the Persian year, Tehran's airport handled 47,476 passenger flights, an increase of 4.8% compared to the same period last year. Cargo transport also experienced a dramatic rise, up 69% from the previous year.
The number of passengers reflects similar growth, with 7.38 million passengers passing through the airport, a 5.3% increase compared to the previous year.