Lufthansa shifts flights as fears of US-Iran conflict disrupt air travel

A major European airline group is adjusting its flight operations in response to fears of a sudden escalation between the United States and Iran, which could trigger regional conflict. The Lufthansa Group, which includes carriers like Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines, announced it will cancel all overnight flights to Tel Aviv and Amman through the weekend, operating only daytime services to allow crews to return immediately without overnight stays.

A Direct Response to Regional Instability

The airline group cited the "current situation in the Middle East" for the operational changes, which will be in effect from Thursday through Monday. Some flights may face cancellations. This move follows a previously established policy of avoiding the airspace of both Iran and Iraq, a significant routing disruption that adds time and cost to flights between Europe and Asia. The adjustments indicate that corporate security assessments align with rising governmental concerns about a potential military confrontation.

Context of Rising US-Iran Tensions

The aviation industry's heightened caution comes amid a sharp increase in hostile rhetoric between Washington and Tehran. US President Donald Trump has threatened "very strong action" if Iran proceeds with executing anti-government protesters, while Israeli media reports that the country's military and intelligence agencies have raised their alert levels. Israel, which fought a short but intense war with Iran in June 2025, is preparing for the possibility that an American attack could prompt Iranian missile strikes against its territory.

The Broader Impact on Commercial Aviation

The Lufthansa Group's decision underscores how geopolitical crises can swiftly disrupt global commercial aviation, affecting schedules, costs, and passenger confidence. The ongoing avoidance of Iranian and Iraqi airspace forces longer flight paths for many carriers serving the Persian Gulf, South Asia, and beyond. Should a conflict erupt, the disruption would be far more severe, potentially closing major air corridors and causing worldwide travel chaos, reminiscent of the initial days of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.