NewsFlights to Tel Aviv halted after Houthi missile strike

Flights to Tel Aviv halted after Houthi missile strike

Following the Houthi rebels' attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, several airlines, including LOT Polish Airlines and Wizz Air, have suspended flights to Israel. These decisions affect connections from Warsaw and Kraków.

Attack on airport in Tel Aviv. Airlines cancel flights
Attack on airport in Tel Aviv. Airlines cancel flights
Images source: © Getty Images
Kamila Gurgul

What you need to know

  • Attack on Ben Gurion Airport: On Sunday morning, a ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen struck the airport vicinity, injuring several people and halting air operations for approximately half an hour.
  • Suspended flights: LOT Polish Airlines and Wizz Air have cancelled their flights to Tel Aviv. Wizz Air has suspended all flights for 48 hours, while LOT Polish Airlines is awaiting further analysis of the situation.
  • International reactions: Airlines such as Lufthansa, Delta, United, British Airways, and Air India have also suspended their connections with Israel for various periods.

As a result of the Houthi rebels' attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, many airlines have decided to cancel their flights. LOT Polish Airlines and Wizz Air have suspended flights from Warsaw and Kraków to Israel.

The spokesperson for LOT Polish Airlines, Krzysztof Moczulski, stated that a decision on resuming flights will be made after a thorough analysis of the situation.

Which airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv?

The Hungarian carrier Wizz Air announced it is suspending all flights to Tel Aviv for 48 hours, until Tuesday morning. The Lufthansa Group, including Austrian and Swiss airlines, as well as low-cost carriers like Eurowings, have also suspended connections with Ben Gurion Airport until Tuesday. Delta cancelled their Sunday and Monday flights between Tel Aviv and New York's JFK Airport, while United has suspended flights from Newark to Israel at least until Thursday.

Which airlines are still flying to Israel?

Despite the challenging situation, Israeli airlines such as El Al, Arkia, and Israir continue their operations without disruption. Similarly, Greek airlines Aegean, flydubai from the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopian are also operating.

Attack on the airport in Tel Aviv: Houthi attack

On Sunday morning, a ballistic missile launched from Yemen by Houthi rebels landed in the area of Ben Gurion Airport, causing minor injuries to several people and halting air operations for about half an hour. The Israeli armed forces attempted to intercept the missile but were unsuccessful. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have been regularly attacking Israel with rockets and drones since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip, and Ben Gurion Airport is one of their primary targets. However, most missiles fired from Yemen are intercepted by Israeli air defence.

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