Airlines around the world are grappling with the safety risks of evacuation operations in Israel on Thursday (12/10/2023). Not a few have stopped flights to that country, as a result of the ongoing war.
Norway Air and the Netherlands’ KLM canceled flights while Air France continued with special flights chartered by the French foreign ministry.
Norwegian Air said it had canceled a planned evacuation flight from Tel Aviv to Oslo due to a lack of insurance coverage.
Dutch airline KLM said late Wednesday it had withdrawn an offer to the Dutch government for flights to Israel to take Dutch citizens abroad. The decision was taken citing security concerns.
“The latest information regarding the situation in Israel shows that it is impossible for civil airlines to carry out safe flights for crew and passengers,” KLM said, as quoted by Reuters.
But a spokesman said sister airline Air France was continuing flights from Paris on Thursday.
It is known that the two airlines are owned by the same parent group Air France-KLM but are operationally separate. No explanation is available for the contrasting decisions.
Rows of Airlines Suspending Israeli Flights
International airlines have suspended hundreds of flights to and from Tel Aviv following the Hamas group’s attacks on Israel at the weekend. The following airlines have temporarily suspended their flights:
Africa
– Royal Air Maroc cancels several flights to and from Tel Aviv until October 19.
America
– American Airlines said Tuesday it had temporarily suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until December 4.
– Delta Air Lines said Monday it would cancel flights to and from Tel Aviv through October 31.
– United Airlines on Sunday suspended direct flights to Tel Aviv until conditions allow them to resume.
– Air Canada canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice, saying it would resume the route as soon as the situation stabilizes.
Asia
– Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline flying between China and Israel, canceled flights connecting Beijing and Shanghai to Tel Aviv from October 12 to October 31. The airline said it would operate two direct return flights between Shenzhen and Tel Aviv on Tuesday and Friday during the same timeframe.
– Cathay Pacific canceled its flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv up to and including October 29.
– Korean Air canceled Monday flights between Incheon and Tel Aviv, and expected future flights to be irregular.
– Air Astana canceled flights from Almaty to Tel Aviv on Sunday. It later said more flights might be canceled if the situation escalated.
– Azerbaijan Airlines canceled a flight from Baku to Tel Aviv with a return scheduled for Tuesday.
Europe
– All airlines owned by Germany’s Lufthansa, including Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines and Brussels Airlines, canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday.
– Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv until Wednesday.
– Britain’s EasyJet suspended flights with Tel Aviv until October 17, and said it would adjust flight times in the next few days.
– Air France KLM suspends flights without giving a timeframe. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Tuesday that she was working with the airline on the possible resumption of flights to help repatriate French citizens from the region.
– Air France unit Transavia France canceled flights until October 19, and said it was not yet known what impact it would have on flights from October 20.
– Norwegian Air cancels flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv and return flights until December 19
– Finnair is suspending flights to Tel Aviv until the end of the Nordic winter season on March 30, 2024. The Finnish airline is not using Israeli airspace on its current flights, it said.
– Hungary’s Wizz Air said on Monday its flights to and from Tel Aviv were canceled until further notice.
– TAP Portugal suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv without providing a timeframe. It said passengers with flights booked until the end of October can rebook for free or request a refund.
– IAG-owned Iberia and Vueling are suspending their flights to Israel for the foreseeable future, company spokespeople said Wednesday.
– Vueling said on its website that it was canceling all scheduled flights to or from Tel Aviv until October 22, with flights between October 23-31 temporarily withdrawn from sale pending possible changes.
– British Airways, which is also owned by IAG, suspended flights to Tel Aviv. The decision came after the airline reinstated flights to the Israeli city back to London due to security concerns.
– Air Europa, another Spanish airline, canceled flights to Israel scheduled for Tuesday and will evaluate whether to resume flights from Wednesday.
– Italy’s ITA cancels flights to and from Tel Aviv until October 12.
– Aegean Airlines cancels all flights to and from Tel Aviv until October 15.
– Bulgaria Air canceled return flights to Tel Aviv on Thursday, following cancellations last Monday and Tuesday.
– Air Malta canceled some return trips until October 18, saying it would adjust operations as needed.
– Icelandair said on Wednesday its remaining scheduled flights to Tel Aviv in October had been cancelled.
– Virgin Atlantic canceled return flights to Tel Aviv on Tuesday and Wednesday, and said its flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv could experience delays or cancellations.
– Poland’s LOT said flights from Tel Aviv may be delayed or canceled in the coming days.
the middle East
– Emirates Airline said on Wednesday it was reducing flights to and from Tel Aviv to one daily service between October 13 and October 31.
– Etihad Airways resumed scheduled passenger and cargo services between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on Wednesday, after canceling flights on Monday and Tuesday.
– Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines on Tuesday suspended flights to Israel until further notice.
– Gulf Air cancels all flights to Tel Aviv until October 14.
Source : CNBC
