In response to escalating Israel-Lebanon cross-border tensions, a group of at least 10 major airlines have suspended flights to Israel, highlighting heightened safety and security concerns in the region.
On August 25, 2024, at least ten major airlines halted all operations to and out of Israel and Lebanon due to these rising tensions. Notable carriers suspending flights include France’s Air France, Greece’s Aegean Airlines, Greek Universal Airlines, Dutch low-cost airline Transavia, Hungary’s Wizz Air, Ethiopia’s flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish leisure airline Corendon, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, and the UAE’s low-cost carrier Flydubai.
The decision to suspend flights comes after a series of airstrikes launched by Israel across southern Lebanon early in August 2024, in response to hundreds of rockets and drones fired by Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist paramilitary group. The suspensions are especially notable as Air France, one of the few major international airlines still operating flights between Paris and Tel Aviv, has decided to temporarily cancel its services.
This situation marks a significant disruption to air travel in and out of Israel, a country that heavily relies on international flights for both tourism and business. The cancellations by these airlines reflect the industry’s growing unease about the risks posed by the ongoing tensions, which, so far, have shown no signs of de-escalation.
Since late July 2024, around 20 international airlines have ceased their flights to Israel, a move that underscores the increasing fear of a broader regional conflict.