Germany’s flagship carrier Lufthansa carried out an on-site assessment of Imam Khomeini International Airport (Airport Code: IKA) and Iranian airspace as it prepares to restart flights between Frankfurt and Tehran in early 2026, IRNA reported on November 11. 

The visit signals renewed confidence in Iranian skies after the airline suspended services in June amid the 12-day war with Israel. Lufthansa’s decision to resume six weekly flights shows a broader push to normalise commercial aviation links in West Asia, with European carriers closely watching the outcome.

Other airlines, including KLM-Air France, British Airways, Ukraine International Airlines, ITA and others, have not yet renewed their flights to the Iranian capital despite large demand. 

The evaluation covered air-traffic management, operational procedures, airport security, and crew evacuation protocols, with officials reporting conditions as “satisfactory”.

Lufthansa and Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO) are finalising a memorandum of understanding that would encompass technical cooperation, crisis management, and training exchanges.

The agreement is expected to tighten regulatory coordination and could pave the way for further collaboration between Iran and European aviation bodies.

The June suspension followed missile and drone strikes by Iranian forces in response to Israeli actions, prompting foreign airlines to avoid the region. Lufthansa’s fresh assessment suggests the immediate risks have been mitigated, at least for scheduled commercial operations.

While specific aircraft details have not been disclosed, the Frankfurt–Tehran route is expected to use wide-body jets, restoring a key business and leisure link between Europe and Iran for the first time in nearly five months.

The EU would have to give final regulatory approvals and slot allocations would have to be cleared by airport officials. 

Earlier in May, Iranian flag-carrier IranAir signed a $300mn public-private partnership agreement with Imam Khomeini Airport City (IKAC) to build a multimodal cargo terminal and logistics centre in the airport's southern aviation free zone as part of renovation efforts for the main terminal in the capital city.

This deal, one of the most significant air freight infrastructure commitments to date at IKAC, falls under the current Persian calendar year's slogan, "Investment for Production", and aligns with goals of Iran's Seventh Development Plan.

It also comes as the current administration aims to push ahead with delayed development projects for the main air terminal, due to US sanctions stymying development. 

Announcement follows a $270mn agreement signed in April for the country's largest cargo terminal, also at IKAC, to ease long-standing bottlenecks and reinforce Tehran's role in regional trade logistics.

Earlier in 2017, the Iranian government also announced new free trade zone rules for jewellers looking to set up operations around the airport.  The centre is expected to increase exports of gold and jewellery products, create sustainable employment for thousands in the precious stone cutting and processing industry and develop commercial tourism.