Lufthansa Group extends flight suspensions to Israel through May 2025

Key Takeaways

• Lufthansa Group suspends all Israel flights through at least May 31, 2025 after a missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport.
• Other major airlines, including United, Air Canada, and British Airways, have extended flight suspensions to Israel until summer or fall 2025.
• Travel disruptions affect families, students, businesses, and immigrants, causing route scarcity, higher prices, and uncertainty in immigration procedures.

Travel between Israel and the rest of the world has taken a hard hit, as major airlines including Lufthansa Group have now decided to stretch their flight suspensions to Israel all the way through the end of May 2025. This move follows a serious missile attack near Ben Gurion International Airport, the country’s busiest gateway, which put the safety of the skies in question yet again. The fresh round of cancellations further weakens Israel’s links to Europe, North America, and beyond, raising new concerns for travelers, students, families, and businesses.

Let’s break down how these changes unfolded and what this means for people trying to enter or leave Israel in the months to come.

Latest Developments: Airlines Announce Prolonged Suspensions

The most striking part of this story is how quickly and widely these suspensions have grown. After the early-May missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi group—which led to explosions near Israel’s main airport—the world’s big carriers paused to rethink the safety of flying in and out of the country.

Lufthansa Group’s Decision

The Lufthansa Group stands out as a key player here. Covering not just Germany’s flagship Lufthansa, but also Swiss (Switzerland), Austrian Airlines (Austria), Brussels Airlines (Belgium), and Eurowings (Germany), this group is the backbone of Europe’s air connections. On May 4th, after the Houthi missile hit near Ben Gurion Airport, Lufthansa Group made its call: no flights to Israel until May 31, 2025, at the earliest.

Importantly, they shared that even once flights do return, only morning flights might fly at first. Night flights remain on hold, due to higher risk concerns during hours of darkness or because of uncertain airspace safety.

Other Major Airlines’ Suspensions

Lufthansa Group is not alone. Other heavyweights have also stopped their direct services and set dates for a possible return:

• British Airways: Flights are off the table through June 14.
• United Airlines: No Israel flights until June 13.
• Air Canada: Cancellations stretch until September 8, setting one of the longest suspensions.
• Delta Air Lines: Flights remain stopped through May 19 for now.
• Air France and its low-cost partner Transavia: No flights until at least May 13.
• Wizz Air: Still no clear end in sight—cancellations stretch through at least mid-May, with no fixed restart date.
• Iberia Express: Spanish flights canceled at least until June 1, but this could go longer depending on what happens next.

This wave of cautious action comes from both European and North American airlines, signaling broad worries about the safety of air travel to and from Israel right now.

Here’s a simple breakdown of who is flying, and who is not:

Most airlines say their return plans might change, based on how the region’s security looks in the next few weeks and months.

Why the New Wave of Suspensions?

It’s not the first time flights to Israel have been disrupted, but the cause is clear: growing risks from missile attacks. At the center is a recent attack by the Houthi group, a rebel force in Yemen. On May 4, a ballistic missile from this group landed close to Ben Gurion Airport, injuring several people and sending travelers running for cover.

This attack wasn’t just a scare, it also led to a short-term airport shutdown and caused airlines to worry about being caught up in future attacks. According to official sources, after the incident, airlines including those under the Lufthansa Group reviewed security reports and found there wasn’t enough proof that things were safer. Until they can be certain, they’re keeping their planes away from Israeli airspace.

The Wider Impact on Israel and Travelers

When airlines on the scale of Lufthansa Group pull out, people feel it in several ways—travelers, businesses, and even immigration authorities who help process thousands of newcomers and returning residents each year.

1. Fewer Flights, Fewer Choices

With carriers like Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air Canada, and others all pausing routes, there are now far fewer ways for people to get in and out of Israel. The direct connections that many have relied on simply aren’t available. This doesn’t just complicate vacation plans. It also impacts:

• Families trying to reunite across nations.
• Students wanting to study or return to school.
• Workers and business teams relying on travel for meetings, training, or to fill jobs.
• Immigrants or those with visas who must leave or re-enter the country for legal reasons.

People who need to leave Israel for urgent reasons now have to search harder for options, sometimes booking connecting flights through other countries, or waiting longer for seats on flights with Gulf-based airlines like flydubai and Emirates—some of the only ones still offering direct service.

2. Longer Layovers; Higher Ticket Prices

A direct result of these suspensions is that the remaining flights are busier, less direct, and more costly. With lower competition, prices go up. That can hit students, families, and people moving for work especially hard. Layovers on routes that once took just a few hours can now stretch into entire days, with stops in places like Istanbul, Dubai, or Athens.

3. Business and Immigration Delays

Travel slowdowns create roadblocks not just for tourists, but also for international companies. Businesses in Israel that depend on regular visits from managers, specialists, or project teams in Europe and North America face tough choices—wait longer, pay more, or try to work remotely. Anyone dealing with a tight immigration timeline, such as work visa renewals or family permits, may find that missing a flight now means missed deadlines or delayed paperwork.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these delays also affect consular services and documentation, as scheduled in-person appointments may become much harder to reach.

4. Impact on Students and Education

Israeli students often study abroad, just as students from other countries travel to Israel for university or exchange programs. If flights are suspended, some may not make it back for the start of a term, which could force them to defer studies or struggle with online classes from far away. Those on student visas need to keep up with changing airline updates to avoid over-staying or breaking visa rules.

5. Immigration Worries Grow

Many people waiting to immigrate to Israel—or move abroad from Israel—now face new questions. Will their visas remain valid if their flights are postponed for months? Can immigrant workers on a time-limited permit wait out the flight freeze, or will some lose the right to enter? These are real concerns that call for careful planning and close attention to government guidance.

Airlines’ Decisions: Who’s Still Flying and Why

With so many suspensions from the likes of Lufthansa Group, United Airlines, and Air Canada, only a few international connections remain. According to open data, Gulf-based airlines such as flydubai and Emirates are largely holding steady. Their hubs in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi give them shorter routes and perhaps different risk assessments than European or North American carriers.

Nevertheless, most airlines that have paused service say they’re following the recommendations of government and international aviation safety bodies—putting passenger and crew safety first.

If you have flights booked, the standard advice is to check officially with your airline or with trusted authorities such as Israel’s Ministry of Transport or your local embassy. You can visit Israel’s Ministry of Transport for the most current updates and travel advisories.

The Role of Lufthansa Group in Shaping Market Moves

The Lufthansa Group’s decisions matter because they influence the choices of other airlines. When a giant like Lufthansa hits the pause button, others see it as a strong sign to act carefully as well. Smaller European and even some Asian airlines closely watch moves by bigger brands before changing their own plans.

What triggered the extra caution for Lufthansa Group and peers was the clear risk shown by recent missile activity and the very real shutdown of Israel’s largest airport, Ben Gurion International. These aren’t distant threats, but problems happening close to where their passengers and crew would fly or land.

Regional and Global Context

The Middle East is no stranger to periods of tension, but the current spike in missile attacks has brought a fresh wave of uncertainty. Outside of Israel, many countries are warning citizens against non-essential travel. Insurance companies are also updating their policies, sometimes refusing coverage for flights that are not government-approved.

For Israelis, the impact goes beyond vacation plans. Many use air connections as lifelines—for health care, study, trade, or even to visit relatives spread across the globe. With fewer airlines operating, Israel’s sense of isolation grows, even as it pushes for more domestic solutions and leans on regional partners.

What Travelers Should Do

If you’re a traveler, student, or businessperson affected by these changes, there are a few core steps to keep in mind:

• Double-check flight status: Don’t just trust your booking—check your airline’s site daily for the latest.
• Monitor government advisories: Stay updated with trusted government agencies for warnings or changes in policy.
• Be flexible: You may need to adjust your plans, try connecting flights, or re-schedule important appointments.
• Save important documents: Make copies of your visa, permit, or travel approval in case changes force you to rebook or show paperwork at new checkpoints.
• Update local contacts: If you’re in Israel on a visa, let your embassy or local consulate know your plans and stay reachable.

The Road Ahead: Possible Extensions and Updates

For now, most carriers—including the entire Lufthansa Group—say they’re waiting for new safety reviews, with all plans subject to change. No one can guarantee when full service will return, and new events could stretch the suspensions further, as the regional situation remains active and unpredictable.

Immigration authorities in Israel and abroad are aware of these problems and may show more flexibility with deadlines—but travelers and those on visas should not assume extensions will be automatic.

Summary and Key Takeaways

The suspension of flights to Israel by airlines like Lufthansa Group is a reminder of how quickly air travel can be disrupted by changes in regional security. As of now:

• Flights by Lufthansa Group and other big international airlines are suspended until at least late May 2025 or later.
• The decision followed a direct missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport, raising fears for airline and passenger safety.
• Only a few foreign airlines, mainly from the Gulf region, still operate direct flights to Israel.
• Everyone from tourists to students to those managing immigration needs is feeling the effects, with fewer flights, higher costs, and longer waits.
• Airlines may stretch these suspensions again if safety doesn’t improve.

For those facing important travel or immigration deadlines, it’s wise to stay connected to official airline channels and reliable sources—keeping an eye on updates from both airlines and authorities such as Israel’s Ministry of Transport.

For the latest, official information on flight status, airline suspensions, and travel advisories, travelers should consult Israel’s Ministry of Transport website.

In such uncertain times, planning ahead, gathering information, and staying connected with authorities can make a real difference. The world will continue watching to see when the Lufthansa Group and its peers believe the skies above Israel are safe enough to open once again.

Learn Today

Lufthansa Group → A major European airline conglomerate including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, central to Europe-Israel flights.
Ben Gurion International Airport → Israel’s largest and busiest airport, located near Tel Aviv, serving as a main international travel gateway.
Flight Suspension → Temporary halt of regularly scheduled flights by airlines, usually due to safety, political, or environmental concerns.
Immigration Authorities → Government bodies responsible for regulating entry, exit, and residency status of people traveling to or from a country.
Houthi Group → A rebel organization based in Yemen, responsible for missile attacks near Ben Gurion Airport that influenced airline decisions.

This Article in a Nutshell

Lufthansa Group’s halt on Israel flights until May 2025, after a missile attack, sparked a wider airline exodus. Travelers now face limited choices, rising fares, and long delays. Immigration, students, and businesses scramble for options, with Gulf airlines among few flying. Safety concerns mean suspensions could easily stretch even longer.
— By VisaVerge.com

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