British Airways
LONDON: On Sunday, British Airways and Air France announced the suspension of their flights to Tel Aviv due to heightened conflict risks following the most intense clashes between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
British Airways (BA) declared that it would suspend its flights to and from Tel Aviv until Wednesday, August 28, citing concerns over safety amid escalating violence in the region.
A spokesperson for BA stated, “We’ve been continually monitoring the situation in the Middle East and have taken the operational decision to suspend our flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including Wednesday 28 August.”
The airline emphasized that the safety of its passengers and crew is its top priority and that it is in the process of contacting customers to provide alternative travel options.
Air France also announced the suspension of its services to both Tel Aviv and Beirut for Sunday and Monday. The French carrier, which typically operates daily flights to these cities, made this decision in light of the increasing hostilities in the region.
Air France’s low-cost subsidiary, Transavia, which serves both Tel Aviv and Beirut, has also halted its flights. The airline stated that any resumption of services would depend on a reassessment of the security situation in the coming days.
The suspension of these flights follows Israel’s recent air strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while Hezbollah retaliated with drone and rocket attacks across the border.
This escalation is part of a broader intensification of hostilities driven by Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas in Gaza, which were triggered by a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7.
Other airlines have similarly adjusted their operations in response to the conflict. German airline Lufthansa recently extended its suspension of flights to Beirut until the end of September and has also halted services to Tel Aviv and Tehran until September 2.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air announced on Sunday that it would temporarily suspend its flights between London Luton Airport and Israel due to the escalating conflict, according to Britain’s PA news agency.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has extended the suspension of its daily flight from Heathrow to Tel Aviv until September 25, following a security review.
These decisions by major airlines reflect the growing concern over safety in the Middle East, as the conflict continues to affect international travel routes and operations.
The situation remains fluid, with airlines closely monitoring developments and making operational adjustments as necessary to ensure the safety of their passengers and staff.
