The Unraveling of the Iran Deal Is Making KLM End Flights to Tehran
Dutch carrier KLM, one of the few Western airlines flying to Iran, will end its flights to the country.
The airline announced on Saturday that it would be stopping its direct service from Amsterdam to Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport (IKA) due to a combination of "negative results and financial outlook for the Tehran operation," KLM said in a statement.
Experts in the aviation industry are attributing the halt in service to the US pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump exited in May. The growing difficulty of doing business in Iran as a consequence may be what pushed passenger numbers down on the route.
KLM had previously offered flights to Tehran until 2013. Its Tehran service resumed in 2016, after the nuclear accord was signed. KLM partner airline Air France also resumed flights from Paris CDG to IKA in 2016. As of now, those flights remain operational.
Air France flies to Tehran with its low-cost subsidiary, Joon. In May, it announced that Joon service to Tehran would only take place during the summer months, due to poor demand.
Several other European carriers still offer direct flights into Iran, including British Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian Airways and Alitalia. The bulk of Gulf carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways, all still service Iran as well. Etihad ended operations to Iran in January.
The Iran nuclear deal lifted Western economic sanctions on the country, and in return, the nation reduced uranium enrichment in the development of nuclear weapons.
KLM's last flight to Tehran will depart AMS on September 22 and return from IKA on September 23.
H/T: AP
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app