Lufthansa adds more flights to Asia, Africa as Middle East war reshapes air travel

Lufthansa says that it is shifting capacity from 10 cancelled Middle Eastern destinations to routes such as Singapore and Bangkok as it contends with disruption from the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Airlines across Europe, including budget carrier Wizz, have been redirecting capacity after suspending services in the Middle East.

Lufthansa says the move also helps meet demand on long-haul routes that Middle Eastern carriers cannot currently serve.

Airline stocks have slumped this week as US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran — and retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Middle East — have disrupted long-haul flights and sent oil prices soaring.

“The war in the Middle East proves once again how exposed air traffic is and how vulnerable it remains,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr says in a statement. He adds that the outlook is uncertain, particularly for jet fuel costs.

The schedule changes come as the German group reported better-than-expected 2025 results, saying stricter financial management and fleet renewal had helped contain costs and lift profits. Its shares rose as much as 4% before reversing to trade down 1.2% at 12:46 GMT.

The company says demand on routes to and from Asia and Africa has risen strongly since the conflict began on Saturday, and it will stick with its focus on expanding long-haul services. Spohr says new flights to Asia would launch in days.

Lufthansa does not say how many services it has cancelled because of the conflict.

While carriers face costs for rescheduling and rerouting, the biggest impact for those outside the Middle East is expected from surging fuel prices. Brent crude futures have jumped more than 20% this week.

Spohr says Lufthansa was well hedged in the short term. The group hedges fuel up to 24 months ahead and was 85% hedged as of December 31, according to its annual report.