Lufthansa said it is considering expanding long-haul services as the ongoing conflict involving Iran disrupts key Gulf aviation hubs and reshapes global passenger flows. According to a report by AFP, the German airline group said demand for long-haul routes has surged after the conflict triggered widespread airspace closures across parts of the Middle East, forcing airlines to suspend or reroute flights.
“The war in the Middle East proves once again how exposed air traffic is and how vulnerable it remains, even though the industry is now more resilient to crises than it used to be,” Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said while announcing the company’s 2025 financial results on Friday, as quoted by AFP.
The conflict began last weekend with attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which prompted retaliatory strikes from Tehran, leading to one of the biggest disruptions to air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airspace closures across the region forced several airports to halt operations, including major transit hubs in Dubai and Doha, both of which play a critical role in connecting passengers travelling between Europe, Asia and Africa.
Disruptions push travellers towards European routes
Lufthansa said the shutdown of Gulf hubs has pushed some travellers to seek alternative routes via Europe, resulting in a sharp rise in bookings for long-haul flights.
“The massive concentration of global traffic flows via the Gulf hubs is increasingly proving to be a geopolitical Achilles' heel,” Spohr said.
The airline group, which also operates Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Brussels Airlines and holds a stake in ITA Airways, said the situation could continue to shift passenger demand toward European hubs.
While Lufthansa expects earnings to grow this year, the group said it is difficult to estimate the financial impact of the conflict as much will depend on how long the war lasts.
For 2025, Lufthansa reported a net profit of €1.34 billion, down around three percent from the previous year and slightly below analysts’ expectations of about €1.37 billion.
Revenue rose five percent to €39.6 billion, while the group’s airlines carried 135 million passengers during the year, up three percent from 2024.
The company described 2025 as a transitional year as it pushes ahead with a restructuring programme, including plans to cut about 4,000 administrative jobs in Germany.
Spohr said the turnaround of Lufthansa’s main carrier remains a “top priority,” adding that the restructuring efforts are beginning to show progress as the flagship airline has returned to profitability.
(With inputs from AFP)
“The war in the Middle East proves once again how exposed air traffic is and how vulnerable it remains, even though the industry is now more resilient to crises than it used to be,” Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said while announcing the company’s 2025 financial results on Friday, as quoted by AFP.
The conflict began last weekend with attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which prompted retaliatory strikes from Tehran, leading to one of the biggest disruptions to air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airspace closures across the region forced several airports to halt operations, including major transit hubs in Dubai and Doha, both of which play a critical role in connecting passengers travelling between Europe, Asia and Africa.
Disruptions push travellers towards European routes
Lufthansa said the shutdown of Gulf hubs has pushed some travellers to seek alternative routes via Europe, resulting in a sharp rise in bookings for long-haul flights.“The massive concentration of global traffic flows via the Gulf hubs is increasingly proving to be a geopolitical Achilles' heel,” Spohr said.
The airline group, which also operates Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Brussels Airlines and holds a stake in ITA Airways, said the situation could continue to shift passenger demand toward European hubs.
While Lufthansa expects earnings to grow this year, the group said it is difficult to estimate the financial impact of the conflict as much will depend on how long the war lasts.
For 2025, Lufthansa reported a net profit of €1.34 billion, down around three percent from the previous year and slightly below analysts’ expectations of about €1.37 billion.
Revenue rose five percent to €39.6 billion, while the group’s airlines carried 135 million passengers during the year, up three percent from 2024.
The company described 2025 as a transitional year as it pushes ahead with a restructuring programme, including plans to cut about 4,000 administrative jobs in Germany.
Spohr said the turnaround of Lufthansa’s main carrier remains a “top priority,” adding that the restructuring efforts are beginning to show progress as the flagship airline has returned to profitability.
(With inputs from AFP)
