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British Airways, Air France to Suspend Flights to Tehran Since September

The last British Airways' flight to Tehran will be on September 22, with the return flight to London on September 23, while Air France cancels all flights to Tehran starting September 18.
Sputnik

"We are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable. We are sorry for any disruption this may cause to our customers' travel plans and we are in discussions with our partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options. Alternatively, they will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to bring their flights forward," the company said in a statement.

The airline stated the suspension of flights had nothing to do with Trump's imposition of new sanctions on Iran, which has impacted foreign businesses operating in the country, with many pulling out completely.

Air France has also announced that it will end flights to Tehran next month, noting that Tehran was airline's only destination in Iran after flights were resumed in 2016.

"We are canceling flights to Tehran for economic reasons starting September 18. The number of [ticket] bookings does not meet our expectations," the representative said adding that the destination ceased to be profitable.

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The Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) have also decided to drop flight to the Iranian capital. 

"Hi! Starting from September 24, 2018, KLM will suspend its flights to Tehran, Iran. This decision has been made for commercial reasons.  If you have booked a flight to Tehran departing on or after September 24, 2018 you will, of course, be rebooked to the most suitable alternative," the airline tweeted.

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At the same time, some air carriers announced they would continue to carry out flights in Iran: for example, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, as Lufthansa Group Spokesperson Boris Ogursky told Sputnik on Thursday.

“Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines will continue to fly to Tehran until further notice”, Ogursky said.

The decisions announced by British Airways, Air France and some others come amid a deterioration of relations between the US and Iran after President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and restoration of US sanctions against Tehran.

The British Airways had suspended its services in the country in October 2012 as relations between Britain and Iran deteriorated, and then reopened direct flights to Tehran in September 2016. 

Dutch carrier KLM announced last month that it was also suspending Tehran flights due to "negative results and financial outlook."

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