Lufthansa Resumes Flights to Riyadh, Amman After Months-Long Hiatus

German airline group Lufthansa will gradually resume flights to Riyadh and Amman starting in September 2026, following a months-long suspension triggered by heightened security concerns and regional tensions in the Middle East.

The company said it continues to closely monitor developments across the region and remains in regular coordination with relevant authorities to assess the security situation before expanding operations.

Lufthansa announced that flights between Frankfurt and Riyadh will resume on September 10, 2026, with three weekly services scheduled on the route.

The group also confirmed that its Italian subsidiary, ITA Airways, will restart flights connecting Rome and Riyadh from September 15, operating five flights per week.

Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines will restart flights between Vienna and Amman on October 2, 2026, with three weekly services, according to the group.

Several international airlines had suspended services to destinations across the Middle East following the escalation of military tensions in the region, including strikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Airlines have since begun gradually restoring routes as security conditions improve.

Lufthansa's return to the Middle East comes after a period of operational pressure for the group, including labor disputes that disrupted thousands of flights.

In April, a strike called by the airline's cabin crew union resulted in the cancellation of around 90% of flights operated by Lufthansa and its CityLine subsidiary, according to union representatives.

The industrial action was linked to disputes over working conditions, including concerns about fatigue management and notice periods for contract termination. Lufthansa urged unions to return to negotiations, saying dialogue remained the only path toward long-term solutions.

Earlier in the year, separate strikes over pension-related disputes also affected operations. In February, nearly 800 Lufthansa flights were canceled, impacting around 100,000 passengers, while another two-day pilot strike later caused further disruptions.