European airlines are increasing direct service to parts of Asia and Africa as travelers pull back from itineraries that rely on Middle East stopovers, according to a Euronews report.
The shift comes as conflict-related disruptions continue to affect aviation in and around the Gulf, prompting airlines to adjust schedules and passengers to reconsider routes that once relied heavily on hubs such as Dubai and Doha. Reuters reported on March 10 that Lufthansa Group added extra long-haul flights after seeing stronger demand on routes to Asia and Africa. British Airways said on March 16 that it had added extra flights to Bangkok and Singapore in response to disruption tied to “the situation in the Middle East.”
Lufthansa And British Airways Add Flights As Demand Shifts
Lufthansa Group has been one of the most visible carriers responding to the demand change. In a company announcement, Lufthansa said it would operate four additional flights between Munich and Singapore, two extra flights between Frankfurt and Cape Town, and two more flights between Frankfurt and Riyadh. Austrian Airlines, which is part of the group, also scheduled 10 special flights between Vienna and Bangkok. British Airways has also increased capacity on Asian routes.
The airline said it had added seven extra round-trip flights to Bangkok and Singapore and would continue reviewing its schedule and adding flights where needed. In a separate March 13 update, British Airways said it was adding flights to and from Singapore and Bangkok to support customers affected by events in the Middle East. Euronews also reported that British Airways plans to launch three weekly flights from London Gatwick to Colombo from October 23, 2026, and daily service from London Heathrow to Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur from January 9, 2027.
Asia And Africa Demand Remains Strong As Airlines Reshape Networks
The route changes are happening against a backdrop of broader tourism recovery in both regions. The latest UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer found that Asia and the Pacific recorded 331 million international arrivals in 2025, reaching 91 percent of pre-pandemic levels, while Africa welcomed 81 million arrivals, an 8 percent increase from the previous year.
Other carriers are also seeing the effects of the shift. Reuters reported that Kenya Airways said it had recorded a demand increase from travelers in Europe, the United States, and Asia as disruptions in the Middle East pushed passengers toward alternative routings. While some of the new European services were already part of longer-term network planning, the latest conflict has made direct connections more attractive and more commercially important.
