Finance
Germany cautions flights over Iran as Lufthansa rejigs Middle East operations
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 14, 2026
Germany Warns Airlines Against Entering Iranian Airspace Amid Tensions
Impact of Iran's Protests on Airline Operations
Jan 14 (Reuters) - Germany issued a new directive cautioning the country's airlines from entering Iranian airspace, Flightradar24 said on Wednesday, shortly after Lufthansa rejigged its flight operations across the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region.
Lufthansa's Flight Adjustments
Lufthansa said on Wednesday that it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice while it would only operate day flights to Tel Aviv and Amman from Wednesday until Monday next week. Some flights could also be canceled as a result of these actions, it added in a statement.
Market Reactions and Safe Havens
Nationwide anti-government protests in Iran started over economic hardships at the end of December last year and have spiralled over the past month with several protesters reported killed while authorities moved to black out the internet to curb growing unrest.
Other Airlines' Responses
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in support of protesters in Iran. Iran's protests follow bouts of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East which have elevated tensions across the region.
The situation has spiked volatility in markets. Investors have piled into safe havens such as gold and the dollar.
The German airline group said in its statement that affected passengers would be automatically rebooked and proactively contacted and added that crews flying into Israel and Amman would fly back directly without an overnight stay on site.
Separately, Italian carrier ITA Airways, in which Lufthansa Group is now a major shareholder, said that it would similarly suspend night flights to Tel Aviv until Tuesday next week.
Airline operators like flydubai and Turkish Airlines have cancelled multiple flights to Iran in the past week.
(Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh and Keith Weird, Steven Scheer and Nathan Gomes; Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio)
Frequently Asked Questions about Germany cautions flights over Iran as Lufthansa rejigs Middle East operations
1What is airspace?
Airspace refers to the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters. It is crucial for the operation of aircraft and is subject to national regulations.
2What is market volatility?
Market volatility refers to the rate at which the price of securities increases or decreases for a given set of returns. It indicates the level of uncertainty or risk in the market.
3What is financial stability?
Financial stability is a condition in which the financial system operates effectively, maintaining confidence in the economy. It involves the resilience of financial institutions and markets to economic shocks.
4What are airline operations?
Airline operations encompass all activities related to the management and functioning of an airline, including flight scheduling, maintenance, crew management, and customer service.
