As of June 8, 2025, the ongoing Gaza conflict continues to disrupt international air travel to Israel, with several major airlines extending suspensions to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport due to heightened security risks, while others cautiously resume operations. The cancellations, influenced by a Houthi missile strike near the airport on May 4, 2025, reflect the volatile regional situation following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,195 people and took 251 hostages. Israeli carriers El Al and Arkia remain operational, with Arkia set to launch a new route to Seychelles on June 20, offering reliable alternatives for travellers.
Below is a detailed list of airline statuses:
Airlines with Suspended Flights
- Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings): Suspension extended through June 22, 2025.
- ITA Airways: Flights cancelled through June 22, 2025.
- LOT Polish Airlines: Operations paused through June 15, 2025.
- Iberia Express: Services suspended until June 30, 2025.
- Air India: Flights halted until June 18, 2025.
- EasyJet: Return postponed until end of June 2025.
- Ryanair: Suspension extended through July 31, 2025.
- British Airways: Flights paused through July 31, 2025.
- Air Seychelles: Operations suspended through end of July 2025.
- Air Canada: Return delayed until September 2025.
Airlines Operating in Israel
- United Airlines: Resumed flights on June 5, 2025, ahead of its planned June 12 restart.
- Transavia: Restarted operations on June 3, 2025.
- airBaltic: Returned on June 6, 2025.
- Delta Air Lines: Operating daily New York-Tel Aviv flights since May 20, 2025.
- Aegean Airlines: Services resumed, specific date not specified.
- Air France: Currently operating.
- KLM: Flights resumed, specific date not specified.
- Ethiopian Airlines: Services ongoing.
United Airlines, which conducted a risk assessment before resuming, and Delta, with its steady New York route, signal cautious optimism. However, the prolonged suspensions by carriers like Air Canada and British Airways underscore the uncertainty. Travelers are urged to monitor airline updates, opt for flexible bookings, and consider Israeli carriers or Middle Eastern hubs like Emirates for connectivity. Affected passengers are entitled to refunds or rebooking, with airlines providing accommodations for those stranded, ensuring some relief amid the disruptions.
