International Airlines Suspend Flights as Israel Declares State of War
A number of international airlines have temporarily suspended their flights to Israel in response to the recent declaration of a state of war by the country. This announcement follows a surprise attack by Hamas over the weekend. US airlines, including Delta Air Lines Inc., United Airlines Holdings Inc., and American Airlines Group Inc., as well as European airlines such as Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air France-KLM, have canceled their service to Tel Aviv. Budget specialist Wizz Air Holdings Plc from Hungary has also halted operations to Israel.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a notice to air missions (Notams) advising operators to review the current security situation before resuming operations. The FAA cautions operators to exercise caution, as delays are expected and they should calculate fuel accordingly.
British Airways, along with its low-cost subsidiary Vueling, has also decided to suspend flights to Tel Aviv. However, Israeli flag carrier El Al Israel Airlines and Turkish carriers Pegasus Hava and Turkish Airlines are still offering limited flights. Emirates and FlyDubai flights from Tel Aviv are scheduled to proceed later in the day, according to FlightRadar24 data.
Numerous Asian carriers, including Air India Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., have announced the suspension of services to Israel due to the recent attacks around the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 Israelis, with Israeli forces targeting over 1,000 sites in Gaza, including rocket launching sites. In response, four combat divisions have been mobilized.
Despite the suspensions, Iberia Express has decided to operate two return flights to Tel Aviv on the day following the cancellations on Saturday and the continuation of flights on Sunday. However, the airline anticipates that it will only operate one return flight in the near future.
Ed Sicher, the President of the Allied Pilots Association, has directed American Airlines pilots not to fly to Israel until the situation is deemed safe. Sicher cites a US State Department travel advisory issued on Sunday, which described the situation in Israel as unpredictable and warned of the possibility of mortar and rocket fire without warning.
American Airlines, which runs a daily service from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to Tel Aviv, ceased its Miami-Tel Aviv service in March. The airline is allowing customers to change their flight dates free of charge in the coming days, as stated on its website.
As the conflict continues, the safety and security of passengers and airline staff remain a top priority. Operators are monitoring the situation closely and adapting their schedules accordingly. The impact on international flights to Israel highlights the challenges faced by airlines in responding to sudden escalations in conflict zones.
