The coming days are expected to be significant for aviation in Israel, as a substantial portion of major airlines are expected to make decisions regarding the continuation of operations to Israel beyond the dates they have indicated so far.

Several airlines continue to cancel their flights to Israel. As of now, Wizz Air has canceled its flights through May 14.

US carriers Delta and United Airlines have also canceled their Israel routes for the time being. Delta has suspended all flights to Israel through May 19, while United has canceled flights through May 18.

Following a security assessment, the Lufthansa Group - which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings - has extended its suspension of service to and from Tel Aviv through May 18 (inclusive).

Greek carrier Aegean Airlines has canceled flights through May 16, while Ryanair has canceled flights through May 21.

Italian airline ITA has extended its suspension through May 19, and flights AZ809 and AZ815 on May 12 have also been canceled.

Air Europa and Air India also announced they would halt operations in Israel.

Air France and Transavia have suspended their Israel routes through May 13. Polish carrier LOT has canceled its flights to Israel through May 12.

Iberia Express has suspended flights to Israel through May 31. British Airways has extended its suspension through June 14.

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Airline cancellations to Israel continued on Wednesday, with several carriers extending their suspensions.

Numerous airlines persisted in canceling flights to Israel, some lengthening the duration of their suspensions. Ryanair announced cancellations until May 11, while American carriers United Airlines and Delta Air Lines extended their suspensions until May 18 and May 19, respectively. These three major airlines significantly impact travel to the country.

AFP / Ed Jones

An Air France Airbus A318 aircraft lands at Blagnac airport in Toulouse, southern France, on January 2, 2025 (AFP / Ed Jones)

Meanwhile, other airlines followed suit. The Lufthansa Group – including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, and Eurowings – canceled flights until May 11. Air France and Transavia suspended operations until May 13, while Wizz Air canceled flights until Thursday morning, May 8, with updates expected during the day. Aegean Airlines from Greece halted flights until May 13, affecting some morning flights on May 14. Air Europa had not announced cancellations beyond Wednesday but was expected to provide updates. Italy's ITA Airways canceled until May 11, including flights AZ809 and AZ815 on May 12. Poland's LOT canceled all flights until May 12, though flight 155 remained scheduled for that date.

Additional airlines joined the cancellations. Air Baltic suspended flights until May 11, Ethiopian Airlines canceled at least some flights for Wednesday and Thursday, and British Airways halted operations until June 14. Iberia Express canceled its Wednesday flights, while Air India and British Airways suspended routes to Israel until May 8.

280 flights at Ben Gurion Airport today - which airlines are operating?

Dozens of airlines have temporarily halted flights to Israel, including Delta, United, Lufthansa, Air France, and other major carriers. Despite this, travel to and from Israel remains possible, with Ben Gurion Airport handling over 45,000 passengers on Wednesday – roughly half departing and half arriving.

In total, approximately 280 international flights, both incoming and outgoing, were scheduled. Airlines still operating at Ben Gurion include Bluebird Airways and TUS Airways – foreign carriers with Israeli ownership – as well as Flydubai, which operates eight daily flights. Etihad Airways, with 20 weekly flights, announced an increase to 28 weekly flights starting in December.

A Lufthansa airplane, photo: PR (archive)

All Israeli airlines – El Al, Israir, and Arkia – continued operations, while Air Haifa maintained its services from Haifa. Airline schedules remain fluid, with potential changes ahead. Travelers should check directly with airlines and official sources for updates on flight operations.

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Video: Missile launched from Yemen impacts Ben-Gurion Airport

Numerous international airlines are seeking clarification about the recent incident and expressing hesitation about flying to Israel.

Air India has canceled its flights through May 6, including flight BA405 on May 7, which had to circle in the air during a missile alert. Today's flights by Air Europa, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines, have also been canceled.

Azerbaijan Airlines canceled tonight's flight but is expected to resume service tomorrow. Delta's flight from New York tonight has been canceled, along with tomorrow morning's flight from Israel to New York.

Italy's ITA Airways has canceled all flights through May 6, including flights AZ809 and AZ815 on May 7. The Lufthansa Group—which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings—has suspended all flights to and from Israel through May 6. British Airways has also canceled flights through Tuesday.

Air France passengers were removed from a plane in Paris. Wizz Air has suspended all flights until Tuesday morning. Iberia Express canceled today's flight. Ryanair flights to Paphos, Turin, Vienna, and Thessaloniki were also canceled.

Ethiopian Airlines, however, announced it is continuing to operate flights to Israel as usual.

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Virgin Atlantic announced Monday it has decided to discontinue its direct flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv. The British airline cited aircraft shortage as the reason for canceling flights to Israel.

Virgin Atlantic joins other airlines that have suspended service to Israel since the outbreak of war in October 2023.

Customers affected by the route cancellation who booked their flights directly through Virgin Atlantic will receive email notifications beginning May 10, 2025, and the cancellation will also be reflected in the "My Bookings" section of the company's website on the same date.

The Israeli CEO of Virgin Atlantic is Shai Weiss, brother of Channel 12 news journalist Dana Weiss. The airline joins Turkish carriers Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines, which announced during the war that they would not resume flights to Israel.

Uziya G., a commenter on the article, noted, "It's not terrible. There are currently 8 daily flights on the Tel Aviv-London route (Heathrow and Luton): 4 by El Al, 2 by British Airways, 1 by Israir, and 1 by Wizz Air. That's enough."

Another reader with the username Mosh responded to the news more critically, writing, "When they want to come back, don't let them return."

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Israeli airline Israir has received official approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate direct flights to the United States, the company announced on Monday. This approval marks a significant milestone in Israir's path toward launching direct flights to the US and expanding options for Israeli travelers. The authorization is temporary, valid for two years.

With this initial approval secured, Israir can now proceed to the next regulatory phase – meeting all requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration. According to company estimates, final approval is expected by June 2025, aligning with the timeline Israir presented to its board of directors.

As previously reported in Israel Hayom, Israir has confirmed plans to operate direct flights to New York around Passover 2026. While no official announcement about the New York route has been made yet, this approval brings the airline significantly closer to launching flights to the Big Apple.

In its statement, Israir added, "The company is working diligently to obtain full regulatory approvals in order to offer its customers an authentic Israeli flight experience on Airbus 330 aircraft, which Israir's air and maintenance crews will operate on the Tel Aviv-New York route."

The expansion into the lucrative US market represents a major strategic development for Israir, potentially creating more competition on routes currently dominated by El Al and major American carriers.

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The Maldives parliament has approved legislation prohibiting Israeli passport holders from entering the country, local media reported on Tuesday. President Mohamed Muizzu swiftly ratified the law following its parliamentary passage. "The ratification reflects the government's firm position in response to the ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people," a statement from the president's office declared. A presidential spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the ban takes immediate effect.

The legislative journey began approximately ten months ago when an opposition member of parliament introduced the initial proposal, which subsequently stalled in parliamentary committees. Opposition parties intensified their push for approval in recent months, particularly after the ruling coalition rejected a proposal to expedite the process last November – a decision that triggered significant public outcry.

The finalized legal text establishes that "until the inhumane actions carried out by Israel against Palestinian citizens since October 7, 2023, come to an end, entry to the Maldives with an Israeli passport will be prohibited."

An earlier version of the legislation sought to implement a more comprehensive ban affecting all Israeli citizens regardless of dual citizenship status. However, this broader approach was abandoned following recommendations from the government's legal advisor.

IT'S OFFICIAL: the Maldives have banned all Israelis from entering the country.

In their attempt to keep Jews out, they've also banned the 20% of Israelis who are Arab. pic.twitter.com/V6qUUc6t1R

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) April 15, 2025

 During parliamentary deliberations, representatives from the Maldivian tourism industry voiced concerns that an all-encompassing prohibition could negatively impact the vital tourism sector. These stakeholders suggested a more targeted approach, recommending that the ban be limited exclusively to Israeli political leadership.

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Delta Airlines is set to resume its operations to Israel tomorrow (Tuesday), with the first flight scheduled to land in the country on Wednesday morning. The American carrier will operate daily flights on the New York-Tel Aviv route.

The airline will use the Airbus A330-900neo aircraft for these direct flights, providing approximately 2,000 seats weekly according to company announcements.

Delta becomes the second American airline to return to Israel, following United Airlines which resumed operations about two weeks ago. United has since doubled its service and now operates two daily flights to Israel. Following Delta's anticipated return, four airlines will be offering direct flights between New York and Tel Aviv: El Al, Arkia, United, and Delta.

Israir has also applied to operate direct flights to New York beginning in July, though the carrier has not yet officially announced the launch of this route and is still awaiting completion of all necessary approvals and procedures.

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After suspending flights to Israel for several months, Irish budget airline Ryanair is resuming its operations in the country. The first Ryanair flight departed Sunday from Baden-Baden, Germany, and was scheduled to land at Ben Gurion Airport shortly after 11:00 a.m.

The Irish carrier plans to operate direct flights to and from Israel to various European destinations, including Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, Baden-Baden, Athens, and additional locations.

Ryanair isn't the only budget airline now operating from Ben Gurion Airport. Wizz Air returned to Israel several months ago and is also running direct flights to multiple destinations, with plans to expand its operations in the current period.

EasyJet is expected to resume its Israel routes at the beginning of June, barring any changes. Once this occurs, all major budget airlines that operate flights to and from a relatively wide range of destinations in Israel will have returned to service.

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A catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday morning, causing buildings to collapse in Myanmar and Thailand, with authorities declaring a state of emergency in Bangkok as rescue teams scramble to reach hundreds of trapped workers and residents while experts warn the death toll could reach thousands.

The quake originated at a depth of 6.2 miles, triggering widespread panic and destruction across multiple countries. Thailand's prime minister promptly declared a state of emergency.

During a live television broadcast in Thailand, viewers witnessed the dramatic moment when screams erupted as panic-stricken program hosts reacted to the studio violently shaking around them.

Thai media reported that seven buildings collapsed in Bangkok, with 43 workers confirmed trapped in the rubble so far. Khaosod, a prominent Thai news site, reported that the Auditor General's building under construction completely collapsed, leaving the fate of approximately 300 workers unknown at this time.

The powerful tremors were strongly felt across several countries in the region, including Thailand, India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Tibet. In Bangkok, Thailand's capital, buildings visibly swayed, emergency alarms blared throughout the city, and terrified residents fled into the streets seeking safety. Swimming pools atop high-rise buildings overflowed, sending cascades of water down the structures, while hundreds of people were evacuated from apartments and multi-story hotels.

Rabbi Nechemia Wilhelm, Chabad emissary in Bangkok, reported: "We felt the quake very intensely but thank God there was no damage."

A Myanmar fire department officer told Reuters: "We have begun searching and are patrolling throughout Yangon to check for casualties and damage. So far, we don't have any information yet."

A resident in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand described the experience: "I felt it for about ten seconds in my room and then realized I couldn't stay inside. So I ran outside to the street."

Devastating footage from Bangkok captured the moment one building under construction completely collapsed into a heap of rubble and twisted metal. Additional videos documented objects being violently tossed from side to side inside buildings, while footage from throughout the Thai capital showed water pouring from rooftop pools.

โอมายก้อด ที่จตุจักรตึกที่กำลังก่อสร้างถล่มเลย #แผ่นดินไหว pic.twitter.com/VrHsWbK6Nb

— ◡̈ ปะติ๊ด ೀ⋆｡ (@Inthemiddleoft9) March 28, 2025

Approximately 300 workers were at the Auditor General's building construction site during the earthquake. Currently, authorities cannot confirm how many managed to escape, how many remain trapped in the rubble, or how many have perished. Rescue and extraction teams are working frantically at the scene. Disturbing footage from the site shows one worker screaming in agony with only his upper body visible among the building debris.

Israelis in Bangkok during the quake shared their frightening experience with Israel Hayom: "It lasted almost four minutes. Everything moved, we felt real fear." According to their accounts, many residents quickly evacuated from high-rise buildings and gathered anxiously in the streets below.

The earthquake struck near Mandalay in central Myanmar, a city of 1.5 million residents. Circulating footage shows multiple collapsed buildings and debris scattered throughout the city streets.

At least dozens of fatalities have been confirmed in Myanmar, though officials expect the death toll to rise significantly. The country's ongoing bloody civil war and severe underdevelopment are complicating rescue operations.

Social media platforms quickly filled with videos showing the extensive damage: buildings violently shaking, terrified people fleeing through streets, and water erupting from pools on upper floors of high-rises. Multiple eyewitnesses in Bangkok continue to report concerning aftershocks.

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that strong tremors were also felt in Yunnan province in southwestern China along the Myanmar border, though no casualties have been reported in China. Witnesses contacted by Reuters in Yangon described scenes of mass evacuation as people fled buildings throughout Myanmar's largest city.

Dr. Ariel Heimann, geologist and researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), provided context on the earthquake: "This is a powerful earthquake that severely hit Myanmar and also Bangkok. Although most of the initial information is currently coming mainly from Bangkok, I estimate that the majority of damage and casualties will be in densely populated Myanmar."

He further explained: "The shallow depth of the quake, 6.2 miles, only intensifies its destructive impact. The cause of the earthquake is the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Asia, the same collision that formed the Himalayan mountain range. According to damage assessment by the US Geological Survey, more than a thousand fatalities are expected, and this is a very conservative estimate. There is potential here for many thousands of victims."

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The Houthi missile launch occurred shortly after reports emerged of American strikes near the port city of Hodeidah in Yemen, amid the military operation initiated by the Donald Trump administration against the rebel group. Meanwhile, the Channel 12 news studio near the capital was evacuated following the launch. Alerts are typically activated due to concerns about falling interception debris.

Video: Channel 12 News broadcast interrupted by sirens /Screenshot: Channel 12 News

Security sources assess that additional alerts may be possible in the coming hours. No calls were received at Magen David Adom's 101 emergency center regarding impacts or casualties, though MDA teams did treat several individuals who sustained injuries while rushing to sheltered areas.

Earlier Thursday, launches from Khan Younis triggered sirens in central Israel for the first time in months. Around 4:00 a.m., Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile that was intercepted outside Israel's borders, activating sirens across central Israel and Jerusalem.

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