Key Takeaways
• Major airlines extended flight cancellations to Israel after a missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, 2025.
• Suspensions are driven by security risks, insurance issues, and crew concerns, causing higher prices and stranded travelers.
• Ben Gurion Airport remains open with limited Israeli airline service; international flights may not resume until safety improves.
Many travelers and families hoping to fly to or from Israel 🇮🇱 are now facing more travel challenges. As of May 18, 2025, many of the world’s biggest airlines have extended their flight cancellations to Israel. These decisions started after a missile landed very close to Ben Gurion Airport near Terminal 1. This event happened on May 4, 2025, and the attack was claimed by Yemen’s Houthi group, who said they were acting in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.
This situation has left Israel 🇮🇱 with fewer international flights than usual. The changes have caused frustration, confusion, and in some cases, higher ticket prices. Here’s what travelers, people waiting for loved ones, and anyone interested in international travel should know about these flight cancellations, what’s driving them, and what it could mean for the months ahead.
A Closer Look at Airline Suspensions
After the ballistic missile made it through Israel’s defense systems and landed near Ben Gurion Airport, many airlines stopped their flights right away. Now, most have decided to keep flights suspended for longer than planned:
US Carriers
– United Airlines: No flights to Israel through June 12, 2025.
– Delta Air Lines: No flights until at least May 19, 2025.
European Carriers
- Lufthansa Group: This includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. They will not fly to Israel until at least May 25, 2025.
- British Airways: Suspended flights through June 14, 2025.
- Air France: Flights are off until at least May 20, 2025.
- Iberia Express: Not flying until May 31, 2025.
- LOT Polish Airlines: No flights until May 25, 2025.
- ITA Airways: Flights stopped until May 18, 2025.
- Aegean Airlines: No flights until May 19, 2025.
- Transavia and AirBaltic: Both have canceled flights through May 20, 2025.
- KLM: Suspended flights until May 31, 2025.
More International Airlines
- Air Canada 🇨🇦: Waiting until September 2025 to resume service.
– Air India 🇮🇳: No flights through May 25, 2025.
Because so many big names in air travel have stopped or delayed their flights to Israel 🇮🇱, people trying to get in or out of the country have fewer choices. Some Israeli airlines are still flying, but there are not as many flights as before, and the options are more limited.
Why Have Flight Cancellations Lasted So Long?
There are several reasons airlines have decided to keep their flights to Ben Gurion Airport on hold. Here’s a breakdown of the main issues:
1. Security Risks
The number one concern is safety. The missile that landed close to a busy airport spread fear among airlines, crews, and travelers. No one was hurt, but the missile attack showed that even Israel’s strong air defense can be penetrated. The Houthi group in Yemen claims responsibility for this and has said it acted because of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Airlines have strict rules about safety. They need to know that an area is safe enough to send planes, crews, and passengers. If there is a risk, many airlines will simply pause flights until things seem safer.
2. Insurance and Compensation Rules
Running international flights comes with special rules about insurance and what to do when flights are canceled. If a flight is called off less than 14 days before take-off, airlines often have to help people find new flights or give them money back. With so many flights canceled and fewer seats available, providing refunds or new flights becomes very difficult and expensive for airlines.
Insurance companies look at risky areas and can charge airlines a lot more to fly there. Sometimes, insurance is even hard to get when there are security threats. These rules and costs make it hard for airlines to start flying again quickly.
3. Aircraft and Crew Availability
When airlines cancel flights, they usually send planes and workers (pilots and flight attendants) to other routes. This means even if Israel 🇮🇱 becomes safer, getting flights moving again can take time. Planes might be needed elsewhere, and flight crews may need special approval or feel comfortable flying to Israel under the new conditions.
Some crews are reluctant to return to Ben Gurion Airport after the recent events. Safety concerns are often enough to stop a flight from taking off, even if the passengers want to go.
4. Limited Options for Travelers
With so many cancellations, Israeli travelers feel stranded or cut off. They have fewer direct routes to places like the United States 🇺🇸, Europe, or India 🇮🇳. Those who must travel may have to pay higher ticket prices, take much longer routes with multiple layovers, or fly only with the smaller group of Israeli airlines still operating.
A traveler with urgent business, a family emergency, or a student hoping to return home might spend hours—sometimes days—trying to reach Israel 🇮🇱 or leave for another country.
Airlines’ Decisions and Israel’s Response
Airlines want to keep their passengers, crew, and planes safe. At the same time, Israel 🇮🇱 depends on air travel to keep its economy and people connected with the world. After the missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport, both sides face tough choices.
Some industry experts believe foreign airlines won’t return in large numbers for the peak summer travel season unless the Israeli government shows it can keep airspace safe. Airlines also want more flexibility on how they handle canceled flights and refunds so they are not forced to pay huge sums while the security risk lasts.
The Israeli government is working with its national carriers to keep some routes open. However, these airlines can’t match the capacity or range of choices that were available before the suspensions began. Ben Gurion Airport remains open, but with most international carriers absent, it is far quieter than usual.
The Human Impact: Stranded Families, Isolated Travelers
The ongoing flight cancellations have human consequences. Many travelers are separated from loved ones, students abroad are uncertain when they can return home, and families are missing important events and gatherings. Business trips, vacations, and study programs have been postponed or canceled.
Visitors to Israel 🇮🇱, including tourists and people coming for religious reasons, also face delays. Hotels and tour operators have fewer guests, and local businesses suffer as fewer travelers arrive.
Airlines usually handle last-minute flight cancellations with offers for new tickets or refunds. But now, the shortage of available seats—along with higher costs and increased demand—means that travelers may face long waiting lists and higher prices.
Here are just a few groups being affected:
- Israeli citizens trying to leave for work or study
- Relatives wanting to visit family abroad
- Tourists hoping to return home from Israel 🇮🇱
- Students who need to start classes in another country
The usual hope is that flights will resume soon, but with each new airline delay, confidence fades a little more.
What Needs to Happen for Flights to Resume?
Based on reports from industry experts, several things must change before airlines feel ready to resume flights into and out of Ben Gurion Airport:
- Trusted Safety for Crews and Planes: Airlines must trust that missile threats are reduced and that Israel’s airspace is secure.
- Government Support: The Israeli government may need to offer new rules or support for travel insurance and the required compensation for canceled flights.
- Flexible Rules: Some airlines want new agreements about how much they pay in refunds or ticket changes during ongoing security events. They want to avoid huge financial losses from factors outside their control.
- Clear Communication: Travelers and airline crews want to hear directly from both the airlines and the Israeli authorities about the changing situation and when it will be safe to fly again.
Long-Term Concerns and Broader Impact
The fallout from the missile attack and continued flight suspensions could last long beyond summer 2025. Travel patterns may change for years, and some airlines might be slow to return even after security improves. As reported by VisaVerge.com, airline and tourism industry experts say restoring confidence will not be easy.
The situation also puts extra strain on Israel’s economy. Fewer international visitors mean less money spent in hotels, at restaurants, or on tours. Students and workers from Israel 🇮🇱 face delays when trying to attend overseas schools or jobs. Soon, if the suspensions last, cargo shipments—vital for imports and exports—could also be disrupted.
This is not the first time Israel 🇮🇱 has faced flight bans due to security scares. But the scale of today’s airline suspensions and the global attention on the missile incident near Ben Gurion Airport have made this bout of cancellations especially difficult.
Choices for Affected Travelers
If you have a ticket to or from Israel 🇮🇱 in the coming weeks, here’s what you can do:
- Check directly with your airline: Many carriers update their passengers through email, text, and websites.
- Look for alternative routes: Some Israeli airlines are still flying, but tickets may be in high demand and routes may be indirect.
- Contact travel agents: Agents can help travelers figure out the best available options, though choices will be limited until more airlines return.
- Learn your rights: International aviation law may give you the right to a refund or a different flight if your trip has been canceled due to these events.
For up-to-date information or to check the current status of flights, you can visit the official Ben Gurion Airport website. This site provides the most current details on departures, arrivals, and any changes that might affect your travel plans.
What to Expect Going Forward
Right now, no one can say for sure when flights will return to normal. The next few weeks are critical. If security conditions improve, some airlines may consider bringing back at least a few flights in time for the summer travel season. Others might wait until later in the year, or until 2026, before resuming regular operations.
Travelers should prepare to be flexible, watch for new updates, and avoid booking non-refundable tickets until airlines publicly commit to returning. Those planning trips involving Ben Gurion Airport should pay close attention to news releases from their airline and from Israeli authorities.
Industry experts and travelers are watching closely. If things improve, the return of international flights will help reconnect Israel 🇮🇱 with families, business partners, and friends around the world.
Summary
Currently, flight cancellations to Israel 🇮🇱 remain in place for much of the world’s top airlines, especially at Ben Gurion Airport. This follows a major missile strike that raised safety concerns. The suspensions, due to security risks, insurance and compensation challenges, and crew caution, have limited travel options, raised prices, and left many travelers stranded.
The path forward depends on improved safety, new government measures, and more flexible rules for airlines. Until then, travelers should stay informed, check with their airlines, and be prepared for more delays and changes in their travel plans.
For anyone needing more details, the Ben Gurion Airport official page has the latest updates and resources to help with decision-making during this period of uncertainty.
Learn Today
Ben Gurion Airport → Israel’s main international airport, near Tel Aviv, central for international and domestic flights and travel disruptions.
Flight Suspension → An official halt of airline operations to a given destination due to security, operational, or regulatory reasons.
Aviation Insurance → Coverage that protects airlines against risks, including war or terrorism, affecting operation costs and decision-making.
Ballistic Missile → A weapon with a long-range trajectory; its use near airports can impact civilian aviation safety decisions.
International Aviation Law → Legal framework governing air travel, passenger rights, compensation, and airline responsibilities worldwide.
This Article in a Nutshell
Airlines worldwide have prolonged suspensions to Israel after a missile incident near Ben Gurion Airport. Security fears, insurance hurdles, and operational disruptions limit travel choices, strand passengers, and increase fares. Only a handful of Israeli airlines still fly, leaving travelers awaiting safer conditions and more flexible rules before airlines return.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• International Airlines Demand Legal Reforms for Israel Flights
• Air Canada delays Israel flights until September 8, 2025
• Betar US Targets Anti-Israel Students for Deportation
• Lufthansa Group extends flight suspensions to Israel through May 2025
• Dual citizenship not a factor in Israel hostage rescue, says Isaac Herzog
