British Airways suspend Middle East flights amid rising tensions
British Airways announced the suspension of its London-Tel Aviv flights until the end of October due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The airline stated: "We have taken the operational decision to cancel our flights to Tel Aviv up to and including Saturday, 26 October 2024." The company had been running a daily return service between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv.
In a similar move, Irish budget carrier Ryanair has also suspended its flights to Israel until at least the end of January 2024, and potentially through March. The airline cited safety concerns for its decision, with CEO Michael O'Leary explaining: "We can’t take the risk of flying our aircraft, crew, or passengers to that area in the Middle East."
Ryanair has additionally halted its four weekly flights to Amman, Jordan — two from Madrid and two from Charleroi, Belgium — until the end of October. However, O’Leary expressed eagerness to resume operations if the situation improves, stating, "If there is a ceasefire, we will restart our flights to Tel Aviv pretty quickly, and to Amman."
Both airlines have issued apologies for the disruption, with safety being their top priority. For further updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, travelers are advised to monitor dedicated news channels. (ILKHA)