Airlines cancel or delay flights to Israel as fighting continues
Major airlines around the world have cancelled flights to Israel or warned of travel disruption as the security situation deteriorates.
Three US carriers, as well as Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates, have suspended services.
Virgin Atlantic warned of cancellations and delays to Tel Aviv and British Airways (BA) has altered its schedule.
Palestinian Hamas militants claimed to have attacked Israel’s Ben Gurion airport with rockets on Monday.
About 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its attack on Saturday, and another 500 have been killed in Gaza in retaliatory air strikes.
Virgin Atlantic reported that it had canceled eight flights between Tel Aviv and London Heathrow from Saturday until next Wednesday.
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“The safety of our customers and our staff always comes first, and our flight schedule to Israel is under constant review,” a spokesman said.
British low-cost carrier Wizz Air confirmed that it had canceled its flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice, while EasyJet halted flights on Sunday and Monday, adding that it would modify its schedule for the rest of the week.
British Airways has changed its daily flights from Heathrow to Tel Aviv to depart in the morning instead of the afternoon. It is understood that this is to avoid the crew having to spend the night in Israel.
A spokesperson for the airline said that a flexible booking policy had been introduced so that customers could change their travel dates free of charge if they wished.
Flight checking website FlightRadar24 shows that some flights were still arriving and departing Tel Aviv on Monday morning, including those of Ryanair and Pegasus.
On Sunday, U.S. carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines reported that they had suspended direct flights to Israel.
In a statement, United said its flights would remain on hold “until conditions allow them to resume.”
Delta stated that flights “have been cancelled through this week.”
Meanwhile, 300 Polish and Hungarian nationals have been evacuated on flights, and Thailand and Nepal are said to be considering similar measures.
Tourists planning to travel to Israel imminently should check their options with their travel agent or tour operator, a spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents has said.
With information from the BBC
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