British Airways, Lufthansa, Wizz Air Suspend Tel Aviv and Middle East Flights from February 28

(LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM) — European carriers are conducting a cautious, space-by-space reset across the Middle East and Israel, with British Airways, Lufthansa, and Wizz Air pausing several routes as airspace closures and shifting safety assessments unleash a flurry of cancellations and rerouting options. The immediate trigger was escalating regional tensions after strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, but the fallout ripples through airports and schedules far beyond that initial spark. For travelers, that means you should assume restart dates are tentative, and plan for potential reroutes, refunds, or credit far more often than in ordinary times.

Section 1 — Overview of suspensions and regional context

Between late February and March 2026, major European carriers announced suspensions across Israel and multiple Middle East destinations. The pattern wasn’t uniform by airline or route, reflecting each carrier’s own risk review and operational feasibility. The airspace closures and evolving safety assessments created network-wide disruption, not just isolated route gaps. In practice, you may see a few destinations reopen while adjacent ones remain paused, and restart dates can move again if conditions shift.

What matters for you is this: if you hold a booking to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Doha, or other regional hubs, you should expect a spectrum of outcomes. Some trips may be rerouted onto different carriers or through alternate hubs; others may be refunded or credited with waivers for fees. The speed at which your travel party can depart will hinge on fare type, original itinerary, and where you’re flying from. It’s a moving picture, so stay tuned to official airline notices for the most accurate guidance.

Section 2 — British Airways suspensions

British Airways (BA) signaled a route-by-route approach rather than a blanket regional pause. The airline canceled or suspended services to Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, with end dates varying by destination. Abu Dhabi flights were suspended longer than some other BA routes, illustrating the same point: the company methodically assessed each market on its own merit rather than issuing a single, regional timeline.

BA’s latest notes pointed to limited repatriation operations as the company balanced passenger safety with the imperative to return customers home. In a notable development, BA ran repatriation flights from Oman to London on March 11–12, 2026, for existing bookings. That move underscored how the carrier prioritized customer movements even as broader network suspended.

What this means for you:

• If your booking targets Abu Dhabi or Tel Aviv, be prepared for possible rerouting via other hubs or options to refund or rebook, depending on your fare type and the feasibility of alternative flights.
• If you hold a London-to-Gulf or Israel itinerary, you may be moved onto a partner carrier or a BA-operated substitute, subject to seat availability and restrictions in your ticket class.

In practical terms, the status and restart dates for BA routes shifted over time. Passengers should regularly check the flight status and be ready to act on rebooking options or refunds through BA’s official channels. The evolving situation means a flexible mindset and early action will pay off when a route resumes or when a suitable alternative appears.

Section 3 — Lufthansa and Lufthansa Group suspensions

Lufthansa’s approach reflected a similar pattern of uneven resume prospects across the region. The airline paused flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam through March 15, 2026, with Tel Aviv remaining suspended longer, through April 2, 2026. Earlier suspensions covered Amman and Erbil until March 15, Beirut until March 28, and Tehran until April 30, with Riyadh and Jeddah continuing to operate.

The Lufthansa Group, which includes SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, extended Israel suspensions through April 2, 2026 and provided waivers for fee-free rebooking or full refunds via the My Bookings portal. This meant that if you were booked on a Lufthansa Group flight to Israel or a related regional route, you could expect structured options to rebook with no penalty or take a refund, subject to the fare rules.

What this means for you:

• If your plan involved a Lufthansa Group connection through a Middle East gateway, you should anticipate uneven restart windows. Some routes may reopen earlier, others later, and some may remain paused while alternative routes are prioritized.
• Elite status and mileage earning may pad your options, but you’ll still need to confirm refund or rebooking terms in your booking portal, especially if the fare is nonrefundable or nonchangeable.

The broader group’s stance underlines a critical point for travelers: even when a carrier restarts some routes, not every city or connection reappears on the same timetable. It’s prudent to track updates through the official My Bookings tools and to prepare for possible long-tail changes if your trip depends on specific regional connections.

Section 4 — Wizz Air suspensions and low-cost carrier options

Wizz Air’s low-cost model faced a sharp pause across Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman, with suspensions through March 7, 2026, and Israel services extended to at least March 29, 2026. For Tel Aviv itineraries, Wizz Air offered specific, time-bound options: passengers could adjust origin or destination to Athens or Larnaca for onward travel, with the caveat that onward travel would be at passenger cost.

Wizz Air stood out for offering 120 percent credit or 100 percent cash refunds for eligible customers. The carrier’s plan to launch an Israel hub in April 2026 was postponed, signaling longer-term operational effects and a more cautious approach to the region’s volatile conditions.

What this means for you:

• If you’re price-sensitive and flexible, Wizz Air’s credit options provide solid value, particularly if you foresee future travel on Wizz Air routes.
• If your itinerary involved Tel Aviv or Gulf connections, you’ll need to weigh rerouting through Athens or Larnaca against the cost and time impact of alternative schedules.

The broader impact from Wizz Air suggests that budget carriers in the region may offer lucrative compensation in credit terms, but the longer-term outlook for network restoration remains uncertain. For travelers relying on Wizz Air, the decision to take refunds or credits hinges on how soon you need to travel to Israel or the Gulf and whether your future plans align with Wizz’s evolving network.

Section 5 — Broader disruption and passenger options

The disruption across the region triggered hundreds of daily cancellations as airspace closures and safety reviews ran in parallel with shifting political developments. Ben Gurion Airport reported 104 cancellations on March 5, 2026, with many flights involving Israeli carriers focused on repatriation. Local carriers—El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa—operated limited inbound repatriation flights, while some regular schedules remained canceled.

Travelers faced a straightforward choice: rebook or seek refunds. Eligibility and delivery depended on airline policy and route conditions, but the safest course was to proceed through official channels to avoid scams or misinterpretation of waivers. The statutory rules that typically govern compensation can be altered in conflict-related disruptions or extraordinary circumstances, so travelers should be aware that typical timelines may not apply.

A competitive context matters here, too. In a region-wide pause, your best option may be to compare options from BA, Lufthansa Group, and Wizz Air to see which carrier offers the most favorable rebooking terms, the strongest credit offers, and the earliest feasible resumption on routes that matter to you. If you have a flexible schedule, you could consider alternatives via connect itineraries that avoid current risk zones, while keeping an eye on airline updates.

In practical terms, the compensation tool notes that Lufthansa Group and its partners have offered fee waivers or full refunds for affected Israel routes. Wizz Air’s 120 percent credit and 100 percent cash refunds give a credible safety net for budget travelers, while BA’s and other legacy carriers typically enable rerouting on partner networks or refunds depending on ticket rules and capacity.

Section 6 — Key dates and what to watch next

Here’s a concise timeline to anchor your planning, recognizing that restart dates are targets, not guarantees:

1. February 28, 2026: Strikes on Iran and related airspace changes trigger regional disruption across the Middle East and Israel.
2. March 3–4, 2026: Partial resumptions appear on some Gulf routes, with other routes still paused. Airlines announce route-by-route reopenings or continued suspensions.
3. March 5, 2026: Ben Gurion Airport reports visible cancellation volume, reinforcing the scale of the disruption and ongoing repatriation efforts.
4. March 7, 2026: Wizz Air’s initial window closes on some Israel routes; extensions are announced for Israel through March 29, 2026.
5. March 10, 2026: British Airways confirms cancellations to Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv; Abu Dhabi remains suspended longer.
6. March 11–12, 2026: BA operates Oman-to-London repatriation flights, illustrating how carriers balance safety with customer needs.
7. March 15, 2026: Lufthansa suspensions to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam end; Tel Aviv remains paused longer.
8. March 28, 2026: Beirut suspension ends in many cases for Lufthansa Group routes; Tehran’s suspension is extended toward late April.
9. April 2, 2026: Lufthansa Group Israel suspensions extend through this date; Tehran suspension ends later in the month.
10. April 16–30, 2026: Planned reopen points for various routes and hubs are revisited as safety conditions and airspace access are reassessed.
11. March 2026 onward: Restart dates repeatedly shift as regional conditions evolve; expect further updates as the situation develops.

What to watch next:

• Restart dates for Gulf and Israel routes are highly contingent on airspace access and security assessments. Treat dates as provisional and stay flexible.
• Rebooking and refund options will continue to vary by airline and fare class, with waivers and credits existing on several Lufthansa Group and Wizz Air routes.
• Monitor official airline channels for the latest guidance on specific flights and onward connections.

Who should book this? Recommendations

If you must travel to Israel or the Gulf soon:

• Check BA, Lufthansa Group, and Wizz Air updates daily. Routes reopen at different times, and the fastest option may come from a carrier with a robust rerouting network.
• Consider flexible fares with change waivers or credits. Wizz Air’s 120 percent credit can be valuable if you expect to travel again soon with a budget option.
• For long-haul connections, evaluate partners and alternative gateways. If your goal is to reach Tel Aviv, look for flights that can skip sensitive routes until the region stabilizes, even if that means longer travel times.
• If you’re seeking reliable refunds or fee waivers, prioritize routes where the carrier explicitly offers these protections and document your communications for future reference.

Mileage/points implications

• For BA and Lufthansa Group customers, eligibility for miles and status credits continues to depend on fare class and partner routing. If a route is cancelled or rerouted, you may earn miles as per your original agreement, but you may need to retune the booking to maintain alignment with your loyalty goals.
• Wizz Air’s credit option creates a practical path to future trips, especially if you anticipate choosing Wizz Air routes for Europe and the Middle East in the near term. Keep an eye on the evolving terms as the network stabilizes.

Bottom line

The current disruption is more than a temporary pause; it reflects a broader, region-wide reevaluation of risk and airspace access. For travelers, the core takeaway is prudence and flexibility. If your travel timeline intersects with Israel, the Gulf, or broader Middle East routes, you should assume restart dates will move and plan accordingly. Lock in refunds or credits where possible, and map out multiple rerouting options through BA, Lufthansa Group, and Wizz Air networks. As the region’s safety assessments evolve, so too will the schedule, with the next wave of updates shaping spring travel for thousands of passengers.

If you’re planning a spring trip to Tel Aviv or Dubai, book before the next announced deadline to secure the best available terms under the current waivers and rebooking options. Stay alert to official carrier notices, and prepare for a flexible plan that prioritizes getting you home with clarity rather than sticking to a fixed timetable. The evolving restart picture will define travel choices through April and beyond, so act promptly when your preferred route resurfaces.