With airspaces closed over major air travel transfer hubs due to the Middle East conflict, Lufthansa reports a spike in demand for direct connections to Asia and Africa. Lufthansa is experiencing a sharp increase in demand for direct flights from Europe to Asia and Africa due to the Middle East conflict. "The massive bundling of global traffic flows via the Gulf hubs is increasingly proving to be a geopolitical Achilles' heel," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said recently during the company's annual review. Passenger impactsTens of thousands of tourists remain stranded in Gulf, awaiting flights that are departing sporadically. The war has also caused major disruptions even in far-flung parts of the world, since the Gulf is a major air hub.

Source: The Local March 06, 2026 08:32 UTC