Several airlines suspend flights to 'Israel' over safety concerns
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A spokesperson for the British Airways says that customers are being contacted by the airline to advise them of their travel options.
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Signs pointing toward shelter at the Ben Gurion airport in "Israel" following the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation in October 2023 (Social media)
Several airlines announced on Sunday suspending all flights to and from "Israel" following Hezbollah's retaliatory operation against "Israel," which involved the launch of hundreds of rockets and drones.
A British Airways spokesperson said that the airline has been "continually monitoring the situation in the Middle East and [has] taken the operational decision to suspend ... flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including Wednesday 28 August".
"Safety is always our top priority, and we're contacting customers to advise them of their travel options," the spokesperson added.
Wizz Air said it is “temporarily suspending” flights “due to the escalating situation in the region”.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic announced extending the suspension of its daily to-and-from flight between Heathrow and Tel Aviv after a “security and safety assessment”. It will now resume operations starting September 25.
Air France has also canceled its flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until at least Monday. "Resuming these routes will be subject to a new assessment of the security situation," the airline said in a statement. "Air France reiterates that the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute priority."
Read more: Yemen vows retaliation against 'Israel', lauds Hezbollah operation
The Israeli occupation has been on high alert for weeks following threats from Iran and Hezbollah in response to the recent assassinations of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Over a dozen airlines have since announced briefly suspending their flights to "Israel," including Luthansa Group till August 31, Delta Airlines till August 26, and American Airlines halted flights until 2025.
Haaretz reported last week that "Israel" is not only feeling isolated but is also experiencing a sense of being under "siege," particularly in the aviation sector.
"Israel" was once an integral part of the global community, with flights arriving regularly and people moving freely, the newspaper said. However, this reality has changed due to the "siege" and the accompanying hardships.
It noted that domestic flights within "Israel" have become almost impossible, with many settlers now staying close to fortified rooms out of fear of potential strikes.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
