Airlines Cancel Tel Aviv Flights After Hamas Attack On Israel

Several major airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport after Hamas fighters launched surprise attacks on Israel Oct. 7, leaving hundreds of people dead and sparking a declaration of war and retaliatory attacks on Gaza from Israel. 

Among the European airlines to have suspended their flights to Tel Aviv, Israel’s international gateway, are Air France, British Airways, easyJet, Finnair and Lufthansa.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) for Israel’s airspace. “Air operators are recommended to ensure that a robust risk assessment is in place together with a high level of contingency planning for their operations and to be ready for short notice instructions from the Israeli authorities,” EASA said.

A U.S. NOTAM issued Oct. 8 described an “unstable political and military situation in Israel.”

“Airlines shall make decisions regarding flight operations to Israel during daylight hours based on a risk assessment, including taking into account the recommendations outlined in the guidelines for assessing risk factors of flight of civil aircraft over conflict zones and their vicinity,” the NOTAM read.

In an update at 4:05 p.m. local time on Oct. 9, Air France said it was monitoring developments in Israel in real time and, in coordination with the French civil aviation authority DGAC and the Israeli authorities, said it was suspending its Tel Aviv services until further notice with immediate effect. Air France canceled its flights to and from Tel Aviv Oct. 9-10.

EasyJet also said it had paused flight operations to and from Tel Aviv until Oct. 13 and would be contacting customers.

British Airways is allowing passengers to make changes to their bookings free of charge but is continuing to operate its Tel Aviv services, with adjusted times.

Lufthansa said it has suspended its regular flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including Oct. 14.

Finnair said it was canceling its Tel Aviv flights over Oct. 9-14 and would later provide an update regarding flights from Oct. 15. Finnair noted that it does not otherwise use Israeli airspace. Passengers booked to travel to Tel Aviv from Oct. 15-31 can change their reservations, Finnair said.

Wizz Air has also canceled its flights operating to and from Tel Aviv though Oct. 10. The Hungarian ULCC said further updates regarding flights to/from Israel beyond Oct. 10 will be issued in due course.

Israel’s flag carrier El Al Airlines is, however, continuing to operate flights and in fact boosting some services. On Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. local time the airline said: “El Al ... operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces. Our flights are operated as scheduled. All El AL flights will depart from Terminal 3 only (including flights which were originally planned to depart from Terminal 1).”

El Al’s statement added: “We are making great efforts to assist Israeli passengers return home from abroad as soon as possible. We have added flights from several destinations in the world and will continue to add flights as much as we can.”

In a message directed at Israeli citizens overseas who wish to return to the country to enlist in the army, El Al said those with an El Al ticket already could call an emergency number while those without an existing booking could purchase tickets through its website.

Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international airport, states in a message on its website that it is working as planned, including arrivals and departures.

U.S. carriers have also suspended flights to Tel Aviv. Delta Air Lines in a statement said it has made the “difficult decision” to cancel its flights to the airport through October 31. The airline said notification to customers about their specific flight will be communicated through the Fly Delta app, and via contact information in their reservations. “Delta will continue to explore options for customers to safely exit Tel Aviv via seats that become available on our partner airlines.”

United Airlines operated two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Oct. 7 and early Oct. 8 and accommodated customers, crews, and employee travelers who were at the airport. “Our Tel Aviv flights will remain suspended until conditions allow them to resume,” the airline said.

The union representing American Airlines’ pilots, the Allied Pilots Association (APA), says the carrier has suspended Tel Aviv service through Oct. 13 and has indicated it plans to reassess midweek.

In a communication to APA membership on Oct. 8, the union’s president Capt. Ed Sicher said it is “not prudent or appropriate to knowingly put our flight crews and passengers in harm’s way by maintaining flights into a war zone.”

Sicher said that after careful consideration, “I am directing all pilots to cease flight operations to Israel until we can be reasonably assured of the region’s safety and security.”

Air Canada on Oct. 9 said it is temporarily canceling flights to between Toronto and Tel Aviv through Oct. 13, and between Montreal and Tel Aviv through Oct. 12. The airline said it is in contact with the Canadian government and will resume operations to Tel Aviv as soon as the situation stabilizes.