In response to the recent escalation of Middle East hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, British Airways and Wizz Air are amongst multiple airlines temporarily suspending of their flights to Israel.
The wave of flight suspensions comes after clashes between the Israeli forces and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The recent engagement has been the most significant since the start of the Gaza crisis.
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) was closed for approximately two hours on Sunday morning as Israel carried out air strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Several inbound flights were forced to make precautionary diversions as a result.
Hezbollah announced that they had launched hundreds of drones and rockets in a concerted strike on Israel.
Renewed and Extended Flight Suspensions
Airlines have broadly stated that they will continue to closely monitor the situation and will resume flights to Israel as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.
British Airways has advised that the flight suspension will extend until at least Wednesday. Low cost carrier Wizz Air was also amongst the airlines announcing flight suspensions on Sunday. Other carriers following suit have included Ethiopian Airlines, Roya Jordanian and Etihad Airways.
Virgin Atlantic will now extend flight suspensions on its London to Tel Aviv route until at least 25 September.
Last week, Lufthansa stated that it would extend Tel Aviv and Teheran suspensions until the beginning of September. The German national carrier will also suspend Beirut flight services until the end of September.
In the meantime, passengers with existing bookings to or from Israel will be offered alternative travel arrangements or full refunds.
Summary
The suspension of flights comes amidst growing concerns over the renewed escalation of violence in the region. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties and widespread destruction. The decision by airlines to suspend flights reflects the seriousness of the situation and the need to prioritize the safety of their customers.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, it remains uncertain when flights to Israel will resume.
Travelers planning to visit the country are advised to check with their airline or travel agent for the latest updates and to be prepared for potential changes to their travel plans.
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