More airlines suspend flights to, from 'Israel' amid wars on Gaza, Leb

By Al Mayadeen English
10 Nov 2024 11:29

Italian and French airlines have canceled all of their flights to and from "Israel" until later this year.

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Two planes are parked at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on September 2, 2024. (AP)

Italian Airlines ITA announced that all its flights to and from "Israel" have been canceled until January 12, 2025.

Air France pulled the same move, suspending incoming and outgoing flights until December 26, 2024.

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.

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 been 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.

Notably, it is worth mentioning that since "Israel" expanded its war to Lebanon, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah, has struck military bases close to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, impacting operations temporarily.