Key Takeaways
• Major airlines extended Israel flight suspensions after a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, 2025.
• Delta and United Airlines flights to Tel Aviv are suspended until at least May 19 and May 18, 2025, respectively.
• Only El Al, Arkia, FlyDubai, Emirates, Etihad, and JetBlue maintain flights; travelers face higher fares and complex itineraries.
International air travel to Israel 🇮🇱 faces one of its toughest moments in recent years as several major airlines extend their suspension of flights to the country. These actions follow a serious security incident on May 4, 2025, when a Houthi ballistic missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport—the main international gateway to Israel 🇮🇱. Although the missile landed in a grove of trees several hundred yards from Terminal 3 and the airport control tower, it has shifted how airlines and travelers view the safety of flights to Israel. The immediate and future effects reach far beyond just plane schedules, impacting families, business travelers, students, and many who depend on global connections for daily life.
Why Are Flights to Israel Suspended?
The central event behind the widespread suspension of flights to Israel 🇮🇱 was the missile strike on May 4, 2025. This incident raised alarm among both passengers and airlines, creating questions about whether Ben Gurion Airport remains secure enough for international flights to operate as usual.
In response, many airlines decided to extend their suspension of flights to Israel 🇮🇱. These extended pauses come just after most carriers had restarted routes following earlier security concerns from the war that started on October 7, 2023. The new worries have prompted airlines to put safety first, leading to a fresh round of cancellations and leaving many travelers stuck abroad or forced to delay critical trips.
Which Airlines Have Extended Their Suspensions?
A large number of airlines, from the United States 🇺🇸, Europe, and around the world, have chosen to suspend their flights to Israel 🇮🇱 for varied lengths of time. Here’s a simple breakdown, based on the most recent published airline updates:
Major US Carriers
- Delta Air Lines: This popular American company has suspended its daily flights between New York and Tel Aviv. The service will remain canceled at least until May 19, 2025.
- United Airlines: Another top US airline, United canceled its two daily Newark-to-Tel Aviv flights. These will not resume before May 18, 2025.
Leading European Airlines
- Lufthansa Group: This group, which includes SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, is pausing all flights to Israel until May 18, 2025.
- British Airways: This UK airline is one of the most cautious—its flights to Tel Aviv are paused until June 14, 2025, creating a long wait for travelers.
- Air France: Air France flights to Israel 🇮🇱 are canceled until May 13, 2025.
- Ryanair and Wizz Air: These two low-cost airlines have suspended their flights to Israel, with Ryanair pushing back service until at least May 21, 2025, and Wizz Air until May 14, 2025.
- Iberia Express: The Spanish carrier won’t fly to Israel until at least May 31, 2025.
- ITA Airways: Resuming flights before May 19, 2025, is unlikely.
- Aegean Airlines: Flights are not operating until at least May 16, 2025.
- LOT Polish Airlines: Services have been canceled until May 12, 2025.
- Air Europa: This airline has completely halted its flights to Israel 🇮🇱.
- Transavia: No flights will take place before May 13, 2025.
- Air Baltic: This northern European carrier has not only canceled flights but stopped selling tickets to Israel until at least May 18, 2025.
Other International Airlines
- Air India: All flights from India 🇮🇳 to Israel are on hold.
- Ethiopian Airlines: This carrier canceled some flights after the missile but hoped to restart service by May 8, 2025.
- Air Seychelles: Flights now avoid Israeli airspace, often going through Larnaca, Cyprus 🇨🇾.
For people planning or needing to travel, keeping up with these ever-changing airline announcements is critical. Each airline’s own website, as well as international travel advisories, offers the most up-to-date information on when flights might resume.
Are Any Airlines Still Offering Flights to Israel?
Although the skies above Ben Gurion Airport are much quieter now, some airlines have not stopped their flights to Israel 🇮🇱. Here’s a look at the companies maintaining service during this difficult time:
- El Al Israel Airlines: Israel’s own national airline stands out. It is the only airline still offering regular transatlantic flights between the United States 🇺🇸 and Israel. This has made El Al a vital link for anyone with urgent travel needs.
- Arkia (Israeli Carrier): Arkia is supporting El Al, trying to add more flights—but sometimes has to make temporary stops in Athens to manage the situation.
- FlyDubai and Emirates: These airlines from the United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 are keeping their Israel routes open at present.
- Etihad Airways: Not only is Etihad continuing service to Tel Aviv, but it has announced plans to increase flights by 40% for the winter season ahead.
- JetBlue Airways: This American carrier is among the small group still active on Israel routes.
Thanks to these airlines, some degree of international air traffic continues. However, choices remain quite limited, and prices are higher than usual, especially since most competitors have paused their operations.
How Are Travelers Affected?
Thousands of people needing flights to Israel 🇮🇱—a group ranging from business travelers and tourists to students and families—are now facing serious problems:
- Higher Airfares: With so many airlines out of the picture, the cost of tickets has jumped sharply. This is particularly painful since prices had just started to drop following the busy holiday season.
- Fewer Options: With more than a dozen major airlines suspending service, travelers often have to book journeys with multiple layovers or less convenient departure times.
- Stranded Abroad: Many Israelis who were overseas during the sudden suspensions find themselves unable to get flights home. El Al’s ability to cap prices on some one-way tickets helps, but it doesn’t solve every problem.
- Longer Layovers and Detours: Some flights that do run are being rerouted to avoid certain airspaces. For example, Air Seychelles has changed its routes to pass through Cyprus, adding extra travel time.
- Operational Constraints: Israeli carriers like Arkia are doing what they can to help, sometimes arranging for flights to make temporary stops in places like Athens to manage the risks and keep people moving.
Even for travelers outside of Israel 🇮🇱, these disruptions are causing headaches. International conferences, business meetings, family events, and academic programs can be postponed or missed entirely. The tourism industry, already hit hard by past events, is bracing for more losses.
What Happened Before These Suspensions?
Many of the airlines now pausing their flights to Israel had only just resumed service after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which started the most recent war in Gaza. It took months for some carriers to feel that flying to Ben Gurion Airport was safe again. This missile strike, coming so close to critical infrastructure, has forced them to rethink.
Safety is the number-one concern for airlines, and the unpredictable nature of the security situation means that companies must be ready to act quickly. According to aviation and travel experts, any risk—even one that does not result in major damage—can be enough to pause all passenger service until there’s more confidence in safety and stability.
Why Is Ben Gurion Airport So Important?
Ben Gurion Airport is not just Israel’s main international airport. It’s a key hub for commerce, tourism, and global connections for the entire country. Nearly all international flights—including those operated by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, El Al, and countless others—use this airport as their gateway.
When activity at Ben Gurion Airport slows, the effects are felt immediately. Airlines lose money, the tourism sector faces a drop in visitors, and people abroad can’t visit family. As reported by VisaVerge.com, disruptions to flights can hurt everyone from business owners to students hoping to attend schools overseas.
If you need the latest updates or official travel advisories for Israel, you can check the official Israel Airports Authority website.
What Are the Potential Long-Term Effects?
The repeated suspensions of flights to Israel carry several possible long-term effects:
- Loss of Trust in Stability: If security problems continue, airlines may be slow to return even once the situation calms. This could reduce direct flights, limit options for travelers, and increase costs well into the future.
- Shift Away From Ben Gurion Airport: Some travelers and companies might look for connecting flights through neighboring countries if they see Israel as less reliable for travel.
- Economic Strain: Businesses in Israel, especially those depending on international trade and tourism, may struggle if travel remains unpredictable. This could mean fewer jobs and lower income for many families.
- Changing Immigration Patterns: Students, workers, and others hoping to move temporarily or permanently to Israel may delay their plans or choose other countries, based on worries about safe travel and regular flight schedules.
- Adjustments for Airlines: Companies like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines may reconsider their commitment to regular routes, since sudden security incidents lead to losses and complex logistical changes.
Are There Different Views on Resuming Flights?
Not everyone sees the current security risk in the same way. While nearly every foreign airline has pulled back, El Al and some airlines based in the region have decided to keep flying. They argue that airport security is strong and that with careful planning, flights can continue safely. On the other side, many international experts stress that airlines can’t risk the lives of crews or passengers and need to wait until the situation is clearly more stable.
For now, there’s no certainty about when flights to Israel will return to their pre-attack levels. Cautious approaches by airlines suggest it could take anywhere from days to months before full service resumes.
What Should Affected Travelers Do Now?
For travelers needing flights to Israel 🇮🇱 or dealing with trip cancellations, here are some practical steps:
- Stay Informed: Airline websites and the Israel Airports Authority give the most current updates.
- Contact Airlines Directly: Anyone with a ticket for a suspended flight should contact the airline for rebooking, refunds, or travel advice.
- Be Ready for Changes: Those who must travel should be prepared for route changes, higher fares, and last-minute updates. Flexible travel plans and insurance are strongly advised.
- Monitor Official Warnings: Governments often update safety and travel warnings. These can influence when airlines resume normal service.
Looking Ahead
The world is watching flights to Israel, Ben Gurion Airport, and how airlines like Delta Air Lines respond to changing security risks. Airlines are eager to get back to normal, as are millions of passengers dependent on regular, safe travel. But until security can be guaranteed, most carriers will continue to err on the side of caution.
Until normalcy returns, the best advice is to keep informed, check official channels for updates, and plan travel only with trusted airlines still flying. Regular flights to Israel will pick up again when airlines, passengers, and officials are all convinced that the skies are truly safe.
For more immigration news, travel updates, and practical tips, VisaVerge.com remains an important resource for global travelers and anyone impacted by disruptions to flights in and out of Israel.
Learn Today
Ben Gurion Airport → Israel’s main international gateway, critical for commerce, tourism, and nearly all international passenger flights into and out of Israel.
Houthi ballistic missile → A long-range weapon launched by Houthi militants, which struck near Ben Gurion Airport and sparked global flight suspensions.
Flight Suspension → The temporary halting of airline routes due to safety, security, or operational concerns, leaving travelers unable to fly as planned.
El Al Israel Airlines → Israel’s national airline, currently the primary carrier maintaining regular transatlantic flights to and from Israel.
Layover → A scheduled stop at an intermediate airport during a journey, often resulting in longer overall travel times when direct flights are unavailable.
This Article in a Nutshell
After a Houthi missile incident on May 4, 2025, major airlines suspended flights to Israel, impacting families, business travelers, and students worldwide. Delta, United, British Airways, and Lufthansa have paused service, while El Al and a few others maintain limited routes. Disruptions affect airfares, schedules, and Israel’s economic stability.
— By VisaVerge.com
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