Flights set to remain suspended into early new year

Many flights to Israel will remain suspended into the new year as major airlines steer clear of the war.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv until mid-March due to the “ongoing situation in Israel”.

British Airways has no tickets for sale in the first few weeks of 2024, although the airline is accepting bookings in February.

Among those returning earlier is German airline Lufthansa, which announced some Tel Aviv flights will resume in early January.

Some airlines’ return dates have already been pushed back, however, as the Israel-Gaza war rages.

Many airlines stopped flights after Hamas attacked Israeli settlements on October 7 and Israel’s subsequent strikes and invasion of Gaza.

Although Ben Gurion Airport – Tel Aviv and Israel’s main international gateway – is still open, major airlines have been cautious in resuming flights.

Virgin Atlantic said its schedule is “under constant review” but flights from London to Tel Aviv are cancelled until March 16, and the return journey until March 17.

Ryanair’s Tel Aviv schedule is suspended until January 31, because of what it called “operational restrictions” beyond its control.

British Airways, which at one stage said it was accepting bookings for December 10, now has no Tel Aviv flights available on its website until February 1.

Wizz Air is offering tickets to Tel Aviv in February from Abu Dhabi, London and Budapest.

Emirates, which suspended Tel Aviv flights in November, is among other airlines that have not announced a resumption.

United Airlines, whose flights are also suspended, said frequent flyers to Tel Aviv would have their status preserved until 2025, even if they do not travel until then.

Meanwhile, American Airlines has extended rebooking options until March.

Lufthansa said a third of its schedule, operated by Airbus A320s, will resume from January 8. Four flights a week will run from Lufthansa’s Frankfurt Airport hub and three from Munich. Routes from Zurich and Vienna will be operated by subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines.

Romanian airline Tarom is planning to return with two flights a week between Tel Aviv and Bucharest from New Year’s Day.

Israel’s national airline El Al is still running its schedule in accordance with security forces instructions.