Airlines Halt Services as Tensions Rise in Middle East

On September 23, concerns about escalating conflict in the Middle East led several international airlines to suspend flights to the region or avoid affected airspace.

Here is a list of airlines that have modified their services to and from the area:

• Air Algerie: The Algerian airline has halted flights to and from Lebanon until further notice.
• AirBaltic: Latvia’s AirBaltic announced on September 16 that it plans to resume its Riga-Tel Aviv flights on September 17.
• Air France-KLM: Air France suspended flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv until September 19. As of September 23, its website shows that flights to Beirut are canceled until at least September 24, while Tel Aviv flights have resumed. KLM, however, has canceled all Tel Aviv flights until October 26. The group’s low-cost carrier, Transavia, canceled flights to Tel Aviv until March 31, 2025, and to Amman and Beirut until November 3.
• Air India: The Indian national carrier suspended its scheduled flights to and from Tel Aviv indefinitely.
• Cathay Pacific: The Hong Kong airline canceled all Tel Aviv flights until March 27, 2025.
• Delta Air Lines: The U.S. airline paused its New York-Tel Aviv route until December 31.
• EasyJet: The UK-based budget carrier suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv in April and plans to resume on March 30, 2025.
• IAG: Vueling, the Spanish low-cost carrier owned by IAG, canceled flights to Tel Aviv until January 12, 2025, and to Amman indefinitely.
• LOT Polish Airlines: While LOT suspended flights to Lebanon indefinitely, flights to Tel Aviv are continuing as usual.
• Lufthansa Group: The German group suspended all flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran until September 24 and to Beirut until October 26.
• Ryanair: The European low-cost airline canceled its Tel Aviv flights until October 26, citing “operational restrictions.”
• Sundair: The German airline canceled its Bremen-Beirut flights until October 23.
• SunExpress: A joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, SunExpress suspended flights to Beirut through December 17.
• United Airlines: The U.S.-based airline suspended flights to Tel Aviv indefinitely due to security concerns.
• Lebanese Airspace Alerts: The UK government advised British airlines not to enter Lebanese airspace from August 8 to November 4 due to potential aviation risks from military activity.