Wizz Air, the budget-friendly airline, announced on Tuesday the cancellation of its flights to Israel for the day.
"Due to the recent escalation, we've temporarily suspended (as of September 24) our routes to Tel Aviv and Amman. We're in touch with customers affected by this change, and we're keeping a close eye on the situation while coordinating with all relevant authorities," the airline said in a statement.
British Airways has grounded all flights to Tel Aviv for the next 48 hours. Joining the ranks, Spanish carrier Iberia and Azerbaijan Airlines have also canceled their routes to Ben Gurion Airport for the same duration. Virgin Atlantic, which was set to make a grand return to Israel after a year-long hiatus, made a midday announcement on Tuesday that their London-Tel Aviv flights are canceled through Friday.
The Lufthansa Group, encompassing Lufthansa Airlines, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings, reported on Monday that the company will extend its flight suspensions to Ben Gurion Airport until October 14. "After reassessing the situation, the Lufthansa Group is updating its Middle Eastern flight schedule. We are offering passengers affected by these cancellations the option to cancel their tickets without fees or to rebook," it said in a statement. The company also halted flights to Tehran and Beirut.
LOT Polish Airlines, Poland's national carrier, has grounded its flights to Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, Delta, the American aviation giant, announced a few days ago that it is extending its flight cancellations from New York to Israel until after Christmas, rather than the initially planned October 31, in light of the recent security situation.
Flights from London to Tel Aviv will make a 90-minute layover in Larnaca for crew changes. Flights from Tel Aviv to London will operate as direct flights. The company said in a statement that: "Together with Virgin Atlantic's code-share agreement with El Al, Virgin Atlantic offers up to four daily flights to London Heathrow. Through the SKY TEAM alliance partnership, Virgin Atlantic flights can reach hundreds of destinations worldwide."
Ryanair, the Irish low-cost sensation, has announced that its flights to Israel are on hold until at least the end of October. In August, Ryanair grounded all flights to Israel due to security escalations following significant geopolitical events in Beirut and Tehran. Although a return was slated for October, the airline has extended the suspension to October 26.
Meanwhile, ITA Airways from Italy has resumed its flights to Israel this month. Also making a comeback are British Airways, Air France, Aegean Airlines, Iberia Express, Wizz Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Cordon and TAROM, all welcoming travelers back to the skies over Israel.
However, some airlines are still holding off on travel to Israel. Air India, the country's flag carrier, has postponed its return until October 24. United Airlines has hit the pause button indefinitely, and American Airlines has marked its calendar for a return at the end of March 2025. Vueling Airlines is eyeing October 26 for its comeback, while Croatia Airlines has no set return date. Air Canada, initially planning an October return, has canceled for now, with no clear timeline in sight. EasyJet, the British favorite, plans to restart its Israel flights in April 2025, offering full refunds for travelers impacted by this extended pause in flights.
Meanwhile, Air Baltic, Latvia's national carrier, has already touched down in Israel again, and KLM is gearing up to resume flights on October 27. According to the Airports Authority, Ben Gurion Airport is bustling Tuesday with around 51,900 passengers on 310 international flights. Approximately 25,300 passengers are set to depart, while 26,600 are expected to arrive, marking a lively day for globetrotters at this gateway to the world.