Tehran suspension [effective 23rd September 2018]
Aug 23, 2018, 3:56 am
#1
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Tehran suspension [effective 23rd September 2018]
Mods please merge this this the 16 other threads i'm sure i've missed despite using your search function for the last 20 minutes:
British Airways has announced the suspension of services between London Heathrow (LHR) and Tehran (IKA).
The final BA153 LHR-IKA will depart on 22 September 2018, with the return BA152 IKA-LHR departing on 23 September 2018.
The following guidelines are available to assist our ticketed customers booked to travel after these dates.
Rebook onto any British Airways operated service between London (LHR) and Tehran (IKA) departing on or before 22 September 2018.
Rebook into the same class as original or the lowest class available in the same cabin.
Alternatively follow all rebooking or refund options from standard customer guidelines
We are in contact with several interline partners for a possible involuntary rebooking guideline onto their services. These will be published as received.
The final BA153 LHR-IKA will depart on 22 September 2018, with the return BA152 IKA-LHR departing on 23 September 2018.
The following guidelines are available to assist our ticketed customers booked to travel after these dates.
Rebook onto any British Airways operated service between London (LHR) and Tehran (IKA) departing on or before 22 September 2018.
Rebook into the same class as original or the lowest class available in the same cabin.
Alternatively follow all rebooking or refund options from standard customer guidelines
We are in contact with several interline partners for a possible involuntary rebooking guideline onto their services. These will be published as received.
Aug 23, 2018, 4:16 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,844
I haven’t seen any other threads on this, you might be the first.
That is a shame: I remember @corporate-wage-slave doing a very interesting Trip Report a few years back when the route was inaugurated, and I’d hoped to visit at some point (not sure when). Do we know why this is being cut? A sign of geopolitical tensions and (or leading to) insufficient demand, I assume? Or just that the aircraft can be more profitably deployed elsewhere?
That is a shame: I remember @corporate-wage-slave doing a very interesting Trip Report a few years back when the route was inaugurated, and I’d hoped to visit at some point (not sure when). Do we know why this is being cut? A sign of geopolitical tensions and (or leading to) insufficient demand, I assume? Or just that the aircraft can be more profitably deployed elsewhere?
Aug 23, 2018, 4:18 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I bet the flow of business travel to Iran has almost stopped as no-one from Europe or USA can do any business there without risking vengeful, punitive action from the current American government.
Aug 23, 2018, 4:19 am
#5
Community Director
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The route was re-launched after a period of 9 years (save for the final few months as a BD route following the takeover) in 2016.
Here's the thread started by c-w-s back then:
New Routes Review 2016 – London Heathrow (LHR) to Tehran (IKA)
Here's the thread started by c-w-s back then:
New Routes Review 2016 – London Heathrow (LHR) to Tehran (IKA)
Aug 23, 2018, 4:37 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,844
The route was re-launched after a period of 9 years (save for the final few months as a BD route following the takeover) in 2016.
Here's the thread started by c-w-s back then:
New Routes Review 2016 – London Heathrow (LHR) to Tehran (IKA)
Here's the thread started by c-w-s back then:
New Routes Review 2016 – London Heathrow (LHR) to Tehran (IKA)
Re-reading it now, it does make me sad it’s been suspended again.
Aug 23, 2018, 4:41 am
#8
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Hugely disappointing but indeed inevitable, the factors involved being way outside the control of BA. I know some of the loads recently have been terrible. Realistically we will need to move out of sanctions, a new administration in Washington and towards easier visas in both directions for this to work. All of which is possible if not probable.
Aug 23, 2018, 5:40 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
Not sure, but would urge anyone considering a trip to Iran to think about the implications, particularly that this would invalidate any future use of the US Visa Waiver Program (with a few exceptions). As much as I would like to visit Iran, the hassle of having to get a visa for all future business or leisure trips to the US is enough to put me off for the time being.
Aug 23, 2018, 5:41 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2013
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Inevitable in current climate. It's a bit like Venezuela. There will be zero business travel from anywhere in Europe or the USA now, which means that there really is no business case at all. It's very sad, but that's geopolitics for you. By all accounts the situation is pretty dire, therefore it would not surprise me if carriers with more established Tehran links such as AF and LH also cut the route, or severely cut back capacity.
Aug 23, 2018, 6:33 am
#13
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Aug 23, 2018, 7:34 am
#14
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Aug 23, 2018, 8:08 am
#15
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