Airlines divert, suspend flights after Israel's strike on Iran closes airspace in Middle East
Share and Follow


Airlines around the world canceled flights to Israel and were skirting a large swath of airspace in the Middle East on Friday after Israel’s overnight missile strikes on Iran. Iran later launched drones toward Israeli territory.

Delta Air Lines on Friday afternoon said it was suspending its service to Tel Aviv, Israel, until at least September, just weeks after resuming flights there. It had most recently resumed flights on May 20, and as of last week Delta had said it was planning to increase service to Israel later this year from New York to two daily nonstop flights, “responding to strong winter demand.”

United Airlines’ Tel Aviv flights were halted through at least Saturday. Both carriers’ Tel Aviv-bound flights turned around over the Atlantic Ocean to return to the New York area after Israel’s strikes overnight. United put 26 of its crew members who were on layover in Israel on Israeli airline El Al to get back to the U.S., a spokesman said.

El Al has since suspended service.

“Following recent security developments and in accordance with the instructions from the state’s security and aviation authorities to close Israeli airspace, all EL AL and Sundor flights are suspended for the time being,” it said on its website.

The carrier said it won’t take bookings until at least the end of June and warned customers against going to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

“For customers currently abroad, we recommend arranging accommodation until there is a change in security directives,” El Al said. “Flights that were en route to Israel have been diverted to land at various EL AL destinations.”

Turkish Airlines and European budget carrier Wizz Air also suspended Israel flights. Germany’s Lufthansa said it was suspending Tel Aviv and Tehran service until July 31 and flights to Jordan and Lebanon until at least June 20. Emirates said it was canceling service from its base in Dubai to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran.

Airlines offered travel vouchers and waived change fees to customers affected by the disruptions.

Escalating military conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have forced airlines to repeatedly take longer and more costly routes to avoid conflict zones.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
King Charles concerns 'prompted Trump to backtrack on UK troops jibe'

King Charles’ Concerns Lead to Trump Reconsidering Comments on UK Troops

Donald Trump has reportedly retracted his statement suggesting that British troops avoided…
Campus Radicals: Union member tell-all, Dems back to DEI ways, more violent leftist threats on campus

Inside Campus Unrest: Union Insider Reveals Democrats’ DEI Moves Amid Rising Tensions

In an unexpected twist, teachers unions took center stage in the recent…
ISIS fighters still at large after Syrian prison break, contributing to volatile security situation

Escaped ISIS Prisoners Fuel Tensions in Syria’s Shaky Security Landscape

US troops remain in Syrian region to counter ISIS Fox News’ chief…
What we know about the 37-year-old man shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis

Breaking Down the Minneapolis Shooting: Key Details on the Federal Agents’ Fatal Encounter with a 37-Year-Old Man

In a city still reeling from a previous fatal incident, Minneapolis became…
All the videos that captured fed agent shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti

Comprehensive Video Footage Surfaces of Federal Agent’s Shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti

The city of Minneapolis finds itself engulfed in turmoil once again following…
How much snow has fallen so far? See 10 biggest snow totals nationwide

Nationwide Snowfall Report: Top 10 Highest Accumulations to Date

Across the nation, snow totals have been climbing, with some areas experiencing…
Fate of the 51 boys reprieved from Auschwitz by Dr Mengele

The Survival Journey of 51 Boys Spared by Dr. Mengele at Auschwitz

On a dreary October afternoon in 1944, the notorious Josef Mengele, often…
Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game on ABC postponed following deadly Minneapolis shooting involving federal agents

ABC Postpones Warriors vs. Timberwolves Game Amid Minneapolis Shooting Incident Involving Federal Agents

In light of escalating tensions in Minneapolis, the NBA has decided to…