Several international airlines have suspended or restricted flights to or from Tel Aviv following the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants. They say they are waiting for security conditions to improve.
The Islamic group’s fighters killed 700 Israelis and kidnapped dozens of people in the attacks on Saturday (7). It was the deadliest raid in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate against the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
Regulators including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union’s aviation safety agency and the Israel Aviation Authority have urged airlines to exercise caution in the region’s airspace but have not lifted flight restrictions.
Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority has asked airlines to “review current security and threat information” in light of the conflict and has changed some flight routes. She noted that delays were to be expected and recommended airlines carry extra fuel.
This Sunday (8), the North American airlines United Airlines, Delta Airlines and American Airlines have suspended their direct flights following precautionary warnings from the FAA.
US airlines typically offer direct flights from major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Miami.
United said it operated two scheduled flights from Israel to the United States late Saturday and early Sunday, but later suspended operations. Delta officials said this week’s flights have been canceled and the situation is being monitored.
In Europe, Air France and Finnair of Finland have suspended direct flights.
British easyJet suspended flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday and said it would adjust flight schedules in the coming days.
The Hungarian airline Wizz Air has canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.
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