Austrian Airlines keeps Middle East routes grounded through October 2026 as Lufthansa Group widens suspension

Late on 24 April, the Lufthansa Group confirmed that all group carriers—including Austrian Airlines—will maintain their suspension of flights to nine Middle-Eastern destinations. Vienna–Dubai and Vienna–Tel Aviv remain cancelled until at least 31 May 2026; Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Erbil, Muscat, Riyadh and Tehran stay off the timetable until 24 October 2026. The move forces Austrian corporates to keep rerouting travellers and freight, squeezes summer capacity and complicates Schengen-visa planning for non-EU assignees.