FRANKFURT: Top European airlines Lufthansa, KLM and Swiss International Air Lines announced on Tuesday that they would extend their suspension of flights to the Middle East as regional tensions escalate.
The announcements follow Israeli airstrikes on Beirut and warnings from a senior White House official about an imminent ballistic missile threat from Iran against Israel.
KLM has now suspended its daily flights to Tel Aviv through the end of the year, having previously announced a pause until October 26.
Lufthansa confirmed it would halt flights to Beirut until November 30, while flights to Tel Aviv are canceled through October 31. The airline also extended cancellations for trips to Tehran until October 14.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers,” stated the Lufthansa group, which includes Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.
Furthermore, the Lufthansa group announced it would avoid Iranian, Iraqi, and Jordanian airspace until October 2, continuing to steer clear of Israeli airspace until October 31.
Swiss International Air Lines echoed this decision, aiming to provide more predictability for passengers and crews amid the volatile situation.
The Israeli military reported that it has initiated a ground offensive in Lebanon, leading to clashes and further escalation of the conflict, which has already resulted in hundreds of casualties from recent airstrikes.
Meanwhile, a senior White House official revealed that the U.S. has indications of Iran’s preparations for a missile attack on Israel, stating, “We are actively supporting defensive preparations to protect Israel against this attack,” and warned that such an action would “carry severe consequences for Iran.”
