Lufthansa resumes flights to Israel after prolonged suspension

Germany's Lufthansa, the largest airline group in Europe, has officially resumed flights to Israel after suspending operations due to security issues surrounding the region. The airline's flights to Tel Aviv were halted on May 4, immediately following an incident involving a missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport. This suspension continued throughout a twelve-day conflict in June, which saw significant military activities involving Israel and Iranian forces. On August 1, Lufthansa, along with Austrian Airlines, began partial operations to Israel from major German and Austrian cities, and throughout August, multiple carriers are expected to service the route. Other airline operations remain mixed, as some European airlines still maintain suspensions, while North American carriers have also restarted services to Israel akin to Lufthansa's cautious return strategy. While Lufthansa's return is a significant development given the heightened tensions that have previously disrupted air travel, it also reflects the careful assessment conducted by the airline and other companies in navigating the complexities of operating in a volatile region.