El Al Cuts Back to 5% as Airlines Scramble Under Fire

El Al Israel Airlines said Monday it will reduce operations to just 5% of normal capacity after new government restrictions sharply limited activity at Ben-Gurion Airport, effectively curtailing most outbound travel.

The move follows a decision by Transportation Minister Miri Regev to scale back air traffic after a security assessment, citing the need to reduce risk to civilian life amid ongoing Iranian missile attacks.

Under the new framework, the airport is limited to one incoming and one outgoing flight per hour. While inbound flights are not restricted in passenger numbers, departing flights are capped at just 50 passengers each.

El Al said the restrictions leave it operating only “essential flights” aimed at maintaining a minimal air bridge between Israel and key international destinations. The airline added that priority would be given to humanitarian and medical cases.

As a result, El Al will operate a sharply reduced schedule serving a limited number of cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens.

The airline also urged authorities to open Ramon Airport, near Eilat, as an alternative hub to relieve pressure on Ben-Gurion and allow for expanded flight operations. Ramon Airport is located near Israel’s southern border with Jordan and Egypt, more than four hours by road from Tel Aviv.

Other Israeli carriers are already shifting operations away from central Israel. Arkia Airlines said it plans to move most of its flights to nearby regional airports in Aqaba, Jordan, and Taba, Egypt, including long-haul routes to destinations such as New York, Bangkok, and Hanoi. Only a limited number of short-haul flights, including to Larnaca and Athens, are expected to continue operating from Ben-Gurion.

Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said the current restrictions make normal aviation activity impossible, describing the situation as effectively amounting to a closure of Israeli airspace.

The new limits come despite Israel’s air defense systems intercepting the majority of incoming Iranian missiles. However, recent interception failures that resulted in civilian injuries have heightened concerns about the risks posed to aircraft and airport infrastructure.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place as long as the security situation requires, leaving airlines to operate under emergency conditions and forcing thousands of passengers to seek alternative travel arrangements or delays.