Israel has ordered domestic airlines to halt all outbound flights in preparation for a planned operation to bring back tens of thousands of citizens stranded overseas amid escalating tensions with Iran.
The directive, based on security agency recommendations, is aimed at reducing the risk of potential attacks on aircraft and limiting large public gatherings at Ben Gurion Airport, which was nearly empty overnight between Thursday and Friday.
Transportation Ministry officials acknowledged that the return of stranded Israelis will be a prolonged process lasting several weeks, dependent on security conditions and guaranteed lulls in Iranian missile fire. No immediate return flights are expected.
Oz Berlovitz, CEO of Arkia Airlines, urged the prime minister, the transportation minister, and top defense officials to intervene in what he called an aviation crisis caused by the closure of Israeli airspace.
"Roughly 200,000 Israelis are stuck abroad," Berlovitz said. "They include hundreds of doctors, reservists called up under emergency orders, patients, and parents of young children. There is no solution in sight."
Berlovitz criticized the emerging plan to allow only two landings per hour, limited to daylight hours, as insufficient. "Tens of thousands of Israelis are stranded, and there is no policy enabling us to start bringing them home," he said. "We are ready—planes and crews are waiting in nearby countries—but we need a decision."
He said hundreds of requests pour in daily from families with young children, soldiers, hospitals, and major companies. “This is a national crisis and should be treated accordingly,” he added.
Israir Airlines said in a statement that repatriation flights could begin later this week or early next week, pending security clearance. The proposed plan would allow two flights per hour, or one wide-body flight per hour, at all hours of the day. Departures from Israel would remain prohibited, and only Israeli citizens would be allowed aboard.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Israir CEO Uri Sirkis cautioned that the plan is preliminary and hinges on final approval. “We’re still analyzing enemy behavior and hope to begin operations soon,” he said.
El Al Airlines, Israel’s flag carrier, announced that all its flights, along with those of its charter subsidiary Sun d’Or, are canceled through Thursday, June 19. The airline said it has not yet received approval to begin rescue flights.
“We understand the difficulty, uncertainty, and stress,” El Al said in a statement. “Once we receive authorization, we’ll move swiftly to bring as many Israelis home as possible.” The airline is currently responding only to urgent inquiries and continues to update its website and social media channels.