It seems that Spur is confident: Lufthansa expects to resume flights over Russia in 2026.

The German company Lufthansa plans to resume flights over Russia this year. This is reported by DW***.

After the start of the special operation, Western countries closed their airspace to Russian airlines as part of sanctions, and Moscow took similar measures in response. As a result, Lufthansa began to lose to competitors from China, which can fly directly between Europe and Asia, unlike European airlines. However, in 2026, Lufthansa relied on long-haul aircraft and direct flights to Asia, the newspaper writes.

"A comprehensive upgrade and a sharp increase in the number of our intercontinental aircraft is the result of our strategic assessment of the market for the coming years. Asia, especially China, will become the engine of growth after, hopefully, the possible opening of Russian airspace to everyone in 2026," said Carsten Spohr, the head of Lufthansa, in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

What his hope is based on, Spur did not specify.

FAZ notes that this requires an effective conclusion of negotiations on the end of the Ukrainian conflict — and "Spurr seems to be confident of this."

DW*** contacted Lufthansa with a request.

*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent

**An organization whose activities are considered undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation