Airlines cancel flights as Middle East tensions rise

Airlines have moved to cancel flights to Israel and some other parts of the Middle East as tensions escalate in the region.

Fears of a wider conflict between Israel and Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah have led to a new round of flight suspensions by leading airlines.

Lufthansa Group, which also owns Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss, said all flights by its airlines to Tel Aviv and Tehran were now suspended up to and including 14 October.

In a statement, the group added that Lufthansa Airlines has already decided to suspend flights to both Tehran and Beirut until 26 October for “operational reasons”.

“The Lufthansa Group continues to monitor the situation closely and will assess it further in the coming days,” said the company in a statement.

“Passengers affected can rebook for a later travel date free of charge or, alternatively, get a full refund of the ticket price. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers. The safety of our passengers and crews is always our top priority.”

Meanwhile British Airways has cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv up to and including Wednesday (25 September). Wizz Air has also temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan.

Air France has announced that its flights to Beirut will be cancelled until 1 October after initially suspending services on the route to the Lebanese capital on 18 September.