Resumptions Announced: Which Airlines Are Flying To Israel Now?
Multiple major airlines have resumed flights to Tel Aviv after suspending service in response to the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Israeli carriers like El Al, Arkia, and Israir had a monopoly on flights to Israel until late November. While many airlines have announced plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv, the security situation may still result in cancellations or postponements.
The war in Gaza has drastically shifted Israel’s aviation and tourism sector. That said, over the past few weeks, multiple major airlines have or will resume flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). These airlines suspended flights to Israel on October 9, following the atrocities committed by the terrorist group Hamas on October 7, leading to a conflict between the terrorist group and Israel in the Gaza Strip. Let’s take a look at what airlines are flying to Israel now.
Following Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, almost all foreign airlines halted service to Israel. This left a monopoly on most routes for Israeli flag carrier El Al and fellow Israeli carriers Arkia and Israir, which continued to operate flights and serve as a necessary air bridge connecting Israel to Asia, Europe, and North America as most foreign airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv due to the war and insurance reasons. The Israeli government has backed insurance for Israeli carriers to ensure they can continue flying.
Until late November, the Israeli carriers were the only airlines operating in Israel. However, the first batch of airlines resumed service to Tel Aviv. This included flyDubai, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Red Wings, Azimuth Airlines, and Uzbekistan Airways. By mid-December, there were a mere 498 weekly departures from Ben Gurion Airport, representing a 66.4% drop from levels in September.
However, the situation has changed immensely. On January 9, the Lufthansa Group, which consists of Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, and Austrian Airlines, all resumed flights to Tel Aviv — last week marked the return of Athens-based Aegean Airlines and Bucharest-based Tarom. According to the Israel Airports Authority, nine international airlines have plans to restart or have already restarted service to Israel, including Air France, Air Europa, Vueling, Transavia, Bulgaria Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Blue Bird, Azerbaijan Airlines, and TUS Airways.
Although these airlines have announced their plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv, the airlines have noted that their decisions may be altered depending on the security situation. As such, if the security situation worsens, airlines may postpone their return to Israel. This means that although things look positive, these flights could still be canceled, and those making bookings should be aware of the risk.
As previously mentioned, over the past few months, El Al, Arkia, and Israir have served as the only bridge between Israel and abroad. In addition to the Israeli airlines, eleven international airlines have resumed flights, with more to come. The airlines operating flights from Tel Aviv in January are detailed in the following table:
– El Al: Amsterdam, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, Boston, Bucharest, Budapest, Chisinau, Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, New York-JFK, Johannesburg, Krakow, Larnaca, Lisbon, London Heathrow, London Luton, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Newark, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sofia, Tbilisi, Vienna, Warsaw, and Zurich.
– Arkia: Athens, Belgrade, Bucharest, Budapest, Dubai, Eilat, Larnaca, Prague, and Tbilisi.
– Israir: Athens, Batumi, Bucharest, Budapest, Chișinău, Dubai, Eilat, Larnaca, Sofia, and Tbilisi.
– Ethiopian Airlines: Addis Ababa.
– flyDubai: Dubai.
– Hainan Airlines: Shenzhen.
– Etihad Airways: Abu Dhabi.
– Red Wings: Sochi.
– Azimuth Airlines: Sochi.
– Uzbekistan Airways: Tashkent.
Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Tarom, Aegean Airlines, Bluebird Airways, Air France, TUS Airways, HiSky, Smartwings, and Azerbaijan Airlines have all resumed or are planning to resume flights to Tel Aviv in the near future.
Despite the return of many legacy airlines, with more scheduled to return in the coming weeks, United States legacy carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have not announced restarting flights to Israel. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have also made no announcement about restarting flights to Israel.
With the resumption of various airlines to Tel Aviv, travelers can expect more options for flying to Israel. However, the security situation remains a significant factor in the airline’s decision-making process. Passengers should stay informed about potential cancellations or postponements of flights due to the ongoing conflict.
As the aviation and tourism sector in Israel slowly recovers, the return of international airlines signifies a step towards restoring normalcy. While the situation remains uncertain, the resumption of flights provides hope for travelers and highlights the resilience of the aviation industry amidst challenging times.
