German flag carrier Lufthansa and its low-cost subsidiary Austrian Airlines will resume flights to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) in early March, ending an extended suspension triggered by regional security concerns, IRNA reported on February 23.

Saeed Chalandari, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City, confirmed the relaunch, with Lufthansa flights scheduled to begin on March 1 and Austrian Airlines following on March 2.

The return of these carriers signals a cautious but essential step towards normalising air traffic between Iran and Europe after months of disruptions. Lufthansa extended its suspension of flights to Tehran until January 31, 2025, citing operational reasons amid ongoing Middle East tensions with Israel. 

Lufthansa had suspended its Tehran operations several times due to escalating regional tensions.

In the wake of Iran’s attack on Israeli territory with around 300 drones and missiles on April 13 and 14, 2024, the German airline initially suspended flights until April 18, later extending this to May 9 due to safety concerns amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.

However, the security landscape has shifted in recent months. A two-month Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), warning of risks in Iranian airspace, expired on January 31.

Since then, the skies have remained calm, according to Mohammad Amirani, head of Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company (IAC), who noted that Iranian airspace has seen over 700 daily overflights without incident.

The IKA recorded 47,476 passenger flights in the first eleven months of the current Persian calendar year, a 4.8% increase compared to the same timeframe last year. Cargo traffic saw an even more pronounced surge, with volumes soaring by an impressive 69%y/y.

Mirroring this positive trend, the IKA recorded 7,380,590 travellers, showing a 5.3% increase compared to the previous year.

Lufthansa's announcement comes as the European Union, along with the UK, imposed sanctions on three major Iranian airlines, namely IranAir, Mahan Air, and Saha Airlines, on October 14 over their alleged transfer of ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.