Int’l airlines still set to return to Israel – despite Houthi missiles and Gaza fighting

Since the Oct. 7 invasion and attack by Hamas terrorists, and the resulting fighting across multiple fronts, flights to Israel have been severely impacted by several broad waves of cancellations by international airlines.

Despite the renewed fighting in Gaza – and the resumption of attacks on Israel by both Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen – no airline has canceled its flights to Israel again so far.

One of the most anticipated returns by an airline is still set for next week, as Ryan Air plans to resume connections between Israel and some 20 destinations with a special offer of ultra-low fares.

This includes tickets from Tel Aviv starting at $33, and connections to about 15 destinations for less than $100, among them Rome, Naples, Budapest, Brussels, Vienna, Paphos, and Athens, according to Globes.

With the Passover holiday soon approaching, one of the busiest periods for the country’s lone international Ben Gurion Airport, Israelis hope that the airlines’ newly-found relaxed attitude will hold for at least several more weeks.

“The demand and bookings for Passover and the summer remain unchanged, which shows the desire of many Israelis to take a relaxing vacation after a long time,” Revital Ben-Natan, CEO of the tour group Ofakim, told Channel 12 News.

Ben-Natan explained that many airlines have developed a “tolerance” to the dynamic security situation in Israel.

“First and foremost, we see that international airlines are trying to create stability for their customers and crews, and as long as there is no significant escalation, I believe we will see them continue to operate. The international airlines have allocated planes and slots for these routes, which have been filled with many customers waiting for their vacation or business trip,” she said.

“International airlines are influenced by many factors, both economic and from various sources: from customers, through the flight crews, to political factors. They monitor what is happening, assess the situation in Israel on a daily basis, and prefer not to cancel flights.”

Dr. Ozi Freund-Finkelstein, an expert in aviation economics, offered two reasons for the lack of cancellations despite the flareup of fighting.

“First, these are sporadic events during a period that is considered relatively calm, so they are exceptional events that can be contained.”

“Second, there is no restriction from aviation regulators, and as a result, flight insurance prices are not too high, and as long as there are no contractual restrictions from aircraft leasing companies on using their planes to Israel. But make no mistake, if this continues and perhaps even escalates, airlines/aviation regulators will return to delays and cancellations. The entire region is closely monitoring the situation in Israel with a magnifying glass,” he told Channel 12.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently lifted a recommendation not to fly through Israeli airspace due to the security situation. This also reduced the insurance cost per flight significantly.

Yaniv Lanis, founder of Secret Flights, explained that the security situation has changed dramatically and was optimistic that airlines and insurance companies would recognize this.

“There is no significant risk from Hezbollah, and Hamas' capabilities have diminished. Iran is not directly threatening, and basically, there is only one Houthi organization with limited capabilities,” Lanis said.

Another important factor enabling the return of many airlines, especially those offering low-cost flights, is the reopening of Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal 1 in late March. The terminal was temporarily closed after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, following a sharp decline in international tourism amid the Gaza War.

The Israeli Airport Authority (IAA) predicts that the terminal will serve more than 1,370 flights in April, representing around 25% of all flights at Ben Gurion Airport. 

In early January, Wizz Air, one of the leading European low-cost airlines, announced it would resume flights between Israel and 10 destinations, including London, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Krakow, Bucharest and Abu Dhabi. The reopening of Terminal 1 means that Wizz Air will expand its Israel operations to 17 destinations. 

In addition, the smaller Israeli airline Arkia will offer 40 weekly flights, while its domestic competitor Israir will operate some 30 weekly flights. 

At the beginning of April, Delta Air Lines and Iberia Express are scheduled to resume flights to Israel, with British Airways following five days later.

In early June, Dutch carrier KLM and EasyJet are expected to follow suit.