Lufthansa and Qantas Avoid Iran Airspace as Tensions Escalate

Among other global airlines, Lufthansa and Qantas have also planned to avoid the Iran airspace. Austrian Airlines, which is part of Lufthansa Group has also followed the German flag carrier to stop utilizing the Iranian airspace.

Lufthansa Halts Tehran Flights & Avoids Iran Airspace

On April 6, Lufthansa announced that it would immediately halt flights from Germany to Tehran. Now, on April 11, it has announced an extension till April 18. In a statement, the airline said that it is extending the cancellation of Tehran services till April 18. Furthermore, the airline is no longer using the Iran Airspace.

For instance, Lufthansa flights from Munich and Frankfurt to Mumbai are now not overflying Iran airspace. Indeed, they are making use of the Mediterranean Sea corridor flying above Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf and then entering the Indian airspace. Two days ago, the airline was using Iran airspace for the same routes.

Vienna-based Austrian Airlines has also followed in the footsteps of the mainline carrier of Lufthansa Group. It has also stopped flying above Iranian airspace. Since 12 April, it has canceled flights from Vienna to Tehran. The suspension will be effective until 18 April. Flight OS25 of Austrian Airlines from Vienna to Bangkok previously used to pass by the Iranian airspace. However, the airline is now overflying via Iraqi airspace, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabian Sea to bypass the tension-induced region.

Qantas Reroutes Perth-London Connection

Australian flag carrier Qantas, which previously used the Iranian airspace for flights between Perth and London has also joined other airlines in avoiding it. The airline now flies throughout the Indian airspace. From the state of Punjab, the airline exits the Indian airspace and through Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Black Sea, it bypasses the Iranian airspace. With this, the flight time is not affected though. There is a minor difference of 10-15 minutes.

A spokesperson from Qantas told AFP that looking at the situation in the Middle East, the airline has temporarily decided to adjust its flight schedules and path. In case, there is any change in the bookings, the airline will contact the passengers.

The Perth-London flight will now make a fuel stopover in Singapore. This will allow the airline to escape from load penalties on this ultra-long-haul flight. The incoming leg of this flight will fly non-stop because it receives a push from wind flow reducing the fuel usage. Other flights in the Qantas network remain unaffected.

Partial Usage of Airspace

While airlines like Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Qantas have fully avoided the Iran airspace, some airlines are partially avoiding it. Indian carriers are the best examples. IndiGo is utilizing the Iran airspace for the Mumbai to Istanbul flight, but avoiding for Delhi to Istanbul route. Similarly, Full-Service Carriers like Air India and Vistara are using the country’s airspace for flights between Mumbai and Europe, but avoiding it for Delhi to Europe routes.

Air India flights from Kochi and Ahmedabad to London Gatwick are avoiding the Iran airspace. According to a statement by Vistara, the airlines are using contingency routes designed for situations like this. Such deviations add 30-45 minutes of additional flight time, resulting in increasing fuel burn.

It remains to be seen whether this cancellation by European airlines goes beyond 18 April or not. The recent seizure of a ship by Iranian Special Forces means that there are fewer chances for that and the situation is expected to further escalate. Here is hoping that the situation calms down and airlines resume normal operations.

What do you think about airlines avoiding Iran Airspace? Is partial usage by Indian airlines safe or not? Discuss in the comments section.