The resumption of economic exchanges between Iran and Western countries is leading to an increase in the number of air routes to Teheran. While Air France relaunched a service to the Iranian capital last April, Air Astana has just opened an Almaty-Teheran route, and British Airways is due to arrive at Imam Khomeini airport in September, Lufthansa is also getting in on the act. "We are expecting a very significant increase in demand due to the growth in business relations, but also to the country's appeal to cultural tourists," comments Thomas Winkelmann, head of Lufthansa's Munich hub.
As a result, on July 4 Lufthansa reopened its Munich-Teheran route, launched in spring 2004 and discontinued in summer 2006. Flown in three-class Airbus A330-300s, including a 21-seat Premium Economy, services between the German hub and Teheran take place three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights depart from the Bavarian city at 10.10pm and arrive in the Iranian capital at 5.20am the following morning.
This route is in addition to the daily flight offered from Frankfurt by Boeing B747-400. In addition, Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, is expanding its services to Teheran with a second daily service, and is also developing connections to major provincial cities.
