Air traffic disruptions in the region have escalated as the confrontation and exchange of shelling between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, with more airlines cancelling flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv.
Beirut Flights
Rafic Hariri International Airport announced on its website the cancellation of more than 30 flights to and from Beirut today, Tuesday.
The website showed the cancellation of flights for various airlines, including Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and other companies from the Emirates.
Air Arabia said on its website that Sharjah-Beirut and Abu Dhabi-Beirut flights had been cancelled today, while Reuters quoted Qatar Airways as saying it had suspended all flights to and from Beirut today and tomorrow due to the “current situation.”
Etihad Airways and Flydubai have cancelled their flights to and from Beirut today in light of the current developments in the region.
Egypt’s Cairo News Channel reported yesterday that EgyptAir has decided to cancel its flights to and from the Lebanese capital Beirut starting Tuesday, September 24, in light of the ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission stated that Jordan has suspended flights operated by Jordanian airlines to Beirut until further notice.
Tel Aviv Flights
The German Lufthansa Group has cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv until October 14, while flights to Beirut and Tehran will remain suspended until October 26.
She indicated that she will continue to closely monitor the situation in the region and will conduct further assessment of the situation in the coming days.
Swiss International Air Lines has continued to suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv until October 14.
Wizz Air, British Airways and Azal (Azerbaijani Airlines) have cancelled flights to Tel Aviv for the next 24 hours, according to the Israeli business newspaper Globes.
Wizz Air said it had “decided to temporarily suspend flights to Tel Aviv and Amman (September 24). The company continues to monitor the situation closely and is in contact with all relevant agencies.”
Since resuming service to Israel, these three companies have temporarily suspended flights in previous waves of cancellations, but have mostly quickly restored flights, after just a few days.
Popular low-cost airline Wizz Air resumed operations to Israel in March, and has since only occasionally cancelled flights.
Azal also returned to flying to Israel in March, and remained stable until a wave of cancellations in August, when it froze operations for a few days.
British Airways resumed flights to Israel in April.
The Polish airline has cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv today and tomorrow, and last week, the American airline Delta announced an extension of its flight suspension until the end of 2024.
“Due to the changes made by some foreign airlines and their decisions to suspend and/or reduce flights to Israel, those departing from Israel should take into account that there may be changes and should stay in touch with their airlines and obtain updated information about their flights,” the Israel Airports Authority said.
