Lufthansa extends suspension of Middle East flights, BA News, BA

German airline group Lufthansa announced on Monday that it was extending the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman, and Erbil until August 21 due to ongoing tensions in the region. The airline also stated that it would avoid using Iranian and Iraqi airspace until the same date, which is an extension from the previous deadline of August 13.

Passengers affected by these changes are allowed to rebook or cancel their journeys free of charge, according to Lufthansa. The airline expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the current situation. Additionally, Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France have extended the suspension of their flights to Beirut until Wednesday, August 14.

These flights have been suspended since July 29, and their resumption is dependent on a new assessment of the situation on the ground, as stated by Air France. However, Tel Aviv’s airport continues to be served by the French carrier. Various other airlines have also made adjustments to their flight schedules in the region recently, reflecting the heightened tensions. The tensions escalated following the high-profile killings of Hezbollah’s top military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, both attributed to Israel. Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border.