Numerous airlines grounded flights to Israel on Thursday amidst escalating Middle East tensions, raising the number of airlines that have issued cancellations to ten.
In contrast, a high-ranking Israeli aviation official insisted that the nation’s airspace remains secure, and authorities would independently close it if the situation necessitated such action.
The Lufthansa Group, encompassing Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings, announced the suspension of flights to Israel until August 9.
Air Baltic canceled its scheduled flights to Israel for Thursday and Friday.
Similarly, Air India, Delta, and FlyDubai canceled their flights to Israel set for Thursday evening and night, with intentions to resume services today.
United Airlines stood out by not providing a specific return date, canceling all flights until further notice.
The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) issued a statement on Thursday, asserting that despite the security concerns, flights to and from Israel were still deemed safe.
“Some of the foreign airlines are suspending or reducing their flights to Israel for their own internal reasons. Travelers must take into account that their return to Israel may be delayed, stay in contact with the airlines and get updated about their flights,” the IAA said.
“Ben Gurion Airport’s flight board continues to be updated and the foreign airlines are updating us regarding their activities to Israel in light of the security tensions.”
Shmuel Zakai, the head of the Civil Aviation Authority, supported this view.
“Flights to Israel are safe,” he said, referencing not only Israeli authorities but also international regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration and its European counterpart. Unlike Lebanon, these authorities have not instructed airlines to avoid flying to Israel, he noted.
Israel’s airspace “is absolutely safe,” Zakai affirmed.
He highlighted Israel’s response on April 13 and 14, when Iran executed a nearly entirely foiled missile and drone assault. “When we assess that the airspace is not safe for flights, we close it. That earned us a lot of credit internationally.”
With many travelers stranded, Zakai pointed out that by Thursday evening, nearly 70,000 passengers had flown in and out of Israel on close to 60 airlines.
“The cancelations are significant,” he conceded, noting that the primary cause for the cancellations was that “flight crews are deterred from coming to Israel.” He advised passengers to consider potential delays and cancellations when booking tickets.
Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia declared their continued operations as usual and even planned additional flights if necessary to aid stranded Israelis.
Foreign airlines have intermittently canceled and resumed flights to Israel since October 7, when the Gaza war commenced with Hamas’s surprise attack, resulting in the murder of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages.
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have also consistently attacked Israeli communities and military positions along the northern border, claiming their actions support Gaza amidst the ongoing war.
Foreign air travel to and from Israel has fluctuated over the past ten months in response to the security situation. Many airlines temporarily halted flights in April when Iran launched a significant drone and missile attack on Israel, nearly all of which were intercepted by the country and its allies.
{Matzav.com Israel}