Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli vehicles fire at eastern Gaza City.
Al-Qassam Brigades: We will hand over the body of one of the occupation prisoners that was exhumed today in the Gaza Strip at 9 pm Gaza time.
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: One martyr and one wounded in the initial toll of an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Al-Bayyad.
Local sources report that a car bomb explosion has targeted the General Security headquarters near the Baniyas Court in the Tartous countryside, western Syria
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.

Suspension of flights causes deep crisis for Israeli aviation sector

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 21 Oct 2024 16:46
4 Min Read

Refusing to fly over dangerous Israeli-occupied airspace, international airways are extending their suspension of flights to the area.

  • x
  • Suspension of flights causes deep crisis for Israeli aviation sector
    Two planes are parked at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on Monday, September 2, 2024. (AP)

Non-Israeli airlines continue to postpone their flights to and from Israeli-occupied territories, significantly impacting travel to the region, Israeli daily business and economics newspaper Calcalist reported.

Notably, British Airways announced today that it will not resume its flights to Israeli-occupied airports until the end of March 2025, having halted operations at the beginning of August.

Meanwhile, the Lufthansa Group has decided to extend the suspension of its flights until November 10, following a recent assessment of the situation. This group includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines, with its subsidiary, Eurowings, also pausing flights until November 30.

Currently, only about 20 foreign airlines are operating at Israeli-occupied airports, highlighting the significant reduction in international travel options.

In the past few days, additional airlines have announced their own extensions of flight suspensions. Polish LOT has pushed its suspension until November 12, Greek Aegean Airlines until November 5, and Air Baltic and ITA until the end of November. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to halt its flights until the end of December, while popular low-cost airline Wizz Air has extended its suspension until mid-January.

Read more: Big investors 'abandon' Israeli real estate sector: Globes

Unprecedented aviation crisis

Calcalist also noted that the escalating crisis in Israeli aviation, spurred by the ongoing deterioration of security, is sending shockwaves through the industry. The situation has made it increasingly difficult to export goods and import essential raw materials needed for production processes in local factories.

The sharp decline in the number of foreign airlines operating in the area has led to a drastic reduction in passenger flights and severely impacted air cargo transportation. Last year, air transport costs surged by approximately 200%, and alongside rising prices, the availability of flights has diminished significantly, particularly in the last two months.

Additionally, shipments of goods and raw materials intended for Israeli companies have become stuck in airports worldwide for weeks. Local exporters, tasked with delivering products to customers abroad, are struggling to find available flights to meet their delivery commitments.

Industry officials have characterized the chaos in air transport as unprecedented, resulting in delays and disruptions in production and product deliveries. This turmoil is damaging manufacturers' reputations and competitiveness, leading to the loss of customers, new contracts, and revenue.

Read more: Several airlines suspend flights to 'Israel' over safety concerns

Israeli assassination policies put economy at risk 

The ongoing war on Gaza and subsequent confrontations on multiple other fronts have further compounded the challenges the Israeli aviation industry is facing. The crisis worsened in late July when numerous airlines still operating in the region announced the suspension of flights following the targeted assassination of Hezbollah commander martyr Fouad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau head martyr Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Currently, the bulk of aviation activity relies on local airlines — such as El Al, Arkia, and Israir — which continue to operate but are overwhelmed by demand. Their limited fleets are struggling to meet the growing market needs for air cargo transport.

Senior officials in the industry have reported that the reduction in aviation activity over the past year has led to a significant increase in air transport costs, rising from around 3 euros ($3.26) per kilogram of goods to approximately 9 euros ($9.77). They warn that continued supply declines, coupled with rising demand, could further inflate prices.

Amid preparations for a potential attack on Iran following a barrage of missiles fired at Israel, the industry is concerned that any further deterioration in security could exacerbate the situation. One exporter expressed deep concern over the cyclical nature of war, highlighting the economy’s vulnerability in the face of worsening conditions and a lack of viable solutions.

Read more: Israeli tech firms startled by post-war Chinese paperwork load

  • Israeli Aviation
  • war on Gaza
  • Israir
  • Arkia
  • Israel
  • El Al
  • British Airways
  • Lufthansa
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bn defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tightens El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS