Several major airlines have suspended flights to and from Israel in response to escalating hostilities in the Middle East, causing significant disruptions for travelers.

British Airways, Wizz Air, and Virgin Atlantic are among the carriers that have halted their services, citing safety concerns as the primary reason.

A British Airways spokesperson confirmed the suspension of flights between London and Tel Aviv, stating: “We’ve been continually monitoring the situation in the Middle East and have taken the operational decision to suspend our flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including Wednesday, 28 August.

“Safety is always our top priority, and we’re contacting customers to advise them of their travel options.”

Similarly, Virgin Atlantic has also delayed the resumption of its Tel Aviv services, initially planned for early September. The airline has pushed the restart date to September 25 after conducting a “security and safety assessment”.

“Following the latest security and safety assessment and after careful consideration we have taken the difficult decision to delay the restart of our Tel Aviv services”, a spokesperson said. “Our teams will be in contact with anyone affected to discuss options, which include rebooking to a later date or a full refund.”

Wizz Air joined the list of airlines suspending operations, announcing on Sunday that it would halt flights to and from Israel due to “the escalating situation in the region”. The airline is offering affected passengers a full refund, free rebooking, or a 120 percent refund in Wizz credits.

“If passengers booked through an online travel agency or another third party, they should reach out to them to receive the refund or rebook to a different flight,” added a Wizz Air spokesperson.

These cancellations come in the wake of renewed military action in the region, including Israeli “pre-emptive” strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The situation in the Middle East has led other airlines to take similar actions. Here’s a full list of airlines that have suspended flights to Israel in 2024:

• American Airlines: Suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv through March 29, 2024.
• Delta Air Lines: Extended its flight cancellations to Israel until September 30, 2024.
• Lufthansa: Suspended flights until further notice.
• Air France: Temporarily stopped flights to Tel Aviv.
• KLM: Canceled flights to Israel amid security concerns.
• Royal Air Maroc: Suspended its Israel flights through February 1, 2024.

As the situation remains volatile, more airlines may follow suit in suspending services, further impacting travel plans to and from Israel. Travelers are advised to stay in close contact with their airlines for the latest updates on flight statuses.