Major Airlines Suspend Tel Aviv Flights Amidst Escalating Hamas Attack
Several major airlines have decided to cancel their flights to Tel Aviv as the Palestinian outfit Hamas intensifies its assault on Israel. The death toll from Saturday’s attack has reached 300 people, according to The Times of Israel. This ongoing violence prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promise that Israeli defense forces would demolish Hamas and seek retribution for the atrocities inflicted upon Israel and its citizens.
Air India, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, and Aegean Airlines are among the carriers that have suspended their flights to Tel Aviv. However, commercial air links with Eilat, Israel’s second international airport and a popular tourist destination on the Red Sea, are unaffected.
A spokesperson from Lufthansa informed AFP that the airline is cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least Monday due to the current security situation. Lufthansa continues to monitor the security environment in Israel before resuming flights. Likewise, Air India has chosen to cancel all scheduled flights to and from Tel Aviv for the safety of passengers and crew.
Other airlines joining the suspension include Brussels Airlines, which is part of the Lufthansa group, and Air France. The latter has ceased all Tel Aviv flights until further notice and is offering customers the option to reschedule or cancel their trips free of charge.
In addition to these cancellations, Transavia, a low-cost carrier belonging to the Air France-KLM group, has called off all flights from Paris and Lyon to Tel Aviv until Monday. Iberia Express, the budget subsidiary of Spanish airline Iberia, has also cancelled its Tel Aviv flights.
Ensuring passenger and crew safety, ITA Airways, Italy’s flag-carrier, has suspended its Tel Aviv flight until at least Sunday morning. Similarly, Iberia Express has halted its Tel Aviv operations.
These cancellations come as major airlines prioritize the safety and security of their passengers amidst the escalating violence between Hamas and Israel. The affected airlines are closely monitoring the situation to determine when it will be safe to resume flights and ensure a smooth travel experience for their customers.
