Frankfurt, Germany

Lufthansa, the flag carrier of Germany which operates both domestic and international flights, has prolonged the halt of its flights from Frankfurt to Tehran till April 13 because of the security apprehensions in the Middle East. This decision comes amid heightened vigilance in the region anticipating a potential retaliation from Iran following a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Syria.

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"Last weekend it was decided not to operate a flight to Tehran with a layover for the crew due to the security situation," a spokesperson for the airline reportedly said. 

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The airlines said that the move was made to prevent crew members from spending overnight layovers in the Iranian capital.

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"On the route, the crew has to spend the night in Tehran before the return flight to Frankfurt. We want to avoid disembarking for safety reasons," the spokesperson added. 

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Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Group and one of the largest airline groups in Europe, are the sole Western carriers operating flights to Tehran. 

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It is pertinent to note that Tehran, the capital city of Iran and a major economic and cultural hub in the region, is mostly served by several Turkish and Middle Eastern airlines. 

Notably, suspected Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital on April 1. Iran reported that the strike resulted in the deaths of seven military advisers.

Amid the threat of a potential retaliation by Iran, US President Joe Biden has vowed US' "ironclad" support to Israel. 

Austrian Airlines Makes Changes

Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines announced its plans to operate flights to Tehran on Thursday but disclosed adjustments in timings to avoid overnight layovers. 

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“The Austrian Airlines flight to Tehran scheduled for today will take place, but will depart from Vienna several hours late in order to minimise the time between landing and departure in Tehran,” a spokesperson said.

(With inputs from agencies)