British Airways Suspends Flights to Israel Until August Due to Security Concerns

British Airways has announced that it will not be resuming flights to Israel until at least August, citing ongoing security concerns. The decision comes after the flag carrier initially suspended flights to Tel Aviv in early May following a ballistic missile strike on Ben Gurion airport that injured six people.

The attack, carried out by Houthi rebels from Yemen, occurred while BA crew members were staying in the city. The Iran-backed group has been engaging in conflicts with Israel in support of Hamas, the terror group in control of Gaza.

Ensuring the safety of its customers and crew is the top priority for British Airways, and the airline evacuated its staff to Vienna at the time of the attack. A spokesperson for the airline stated, “We continually monitor operating conditions and have made the decision to suspend our flights to and from Tel Aviv, up to and including 31 July. We’ve apologized to our customers for the inconvenience.

This decision comes as Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza, despite growing international criticism of its tactics. For weeks, Israel had been blocking vital food and aid supplies from entering the territory, causing distressing scenes of residents begging for rations. However, in the last week, the Israeli government has allowed limited supplies to cross the border.

In response to the ongoing conflict, Air France has also extended its suspension of flights until at least May 26. On the other hand, Greece’s Aegean Airlines has resumed flights to Tel Aviv on Wednesday after initially halting operations following the Houthi attack.

Meanwhile, America’s Delta airline has resumed its daily nonstop route from New York’s JFK airport to Tel Aviv on Monday. The company conducted a comprehensive risk assessment before making the decision and continues to closely monitor the situation.

Conclusion

British Airways and Air France have suspended flights to Israel until at least August, while other airlines have resumed operations after conducting risk assessments. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to concerns about the safety of flights to Tel Aviv, and British Airways has prioritized the safety of its customers and crew in making the decision to suspend flights.