The Transportation Ministry will further ease flight restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport starting Sunday night, allowing airlines to sell up to 100 seats on outbound flights about two weeks after tighter limits were imposed because of the security situation.
Of that quota, about 30% will be allocated to humanitarian and exceptional cases, subject to approval by a designated committee. Flight crews will not be included in the passenger count.
At this stage, there is no change in the number of permitted air movements, set at one departing and one arriving aircraft per hour. Transportation Minister Miri Regev has asked to present, after the holiday, a plan to examine increasing flight volumes as part of the easing measures.
Last month, Regev ordered a significant tightening of the flight framework at Ben Gurion Airport, reducing the number of passengers on outbound flights to about 70, alongside strict limits on the pace of air traffic. The decision followed recommendations from security officials after an unusual incident in which interceptor debris fell inside the airport grounds and damaged several aircraft.
Security officials emphasized at the time that the reduction was intended to allow a safer response for passengers during emergencies, particularly in terms of the ability to quickly reach protected areas in the event of a siren. Accordingly, it was decided to allow only one takeoff and one landing per hour, a restriction that remains in place.
Prior to the tightening, there had actually been a trend toward easing, with increased passenger quotas and approval to operate wide-body aircraft on certain routes. However, security developments led to a rapid reversal and the reimposition of restrictions, which are now gradually being eased once again.
The Transportation Ministry stressed that all changes to the framework are determined in accordance with ongoing situational assessments.
Meanwhile, a long list of foreign airlines has announced cancellations or suspensions of flights to and from Israel since the outbreak of the war, amid escalating security tensions in the region.
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Air India has canceled its flights to and from Israel through May 31
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Air India, the country’s national carrier, becomes the latest airline to cancel its flights to and from Israel, so far through May 31.
United Airlines has suspended flights from the United States to Tel Aviv through September 7.
Air Canada said it is extending its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv through September 7.
Delta Air Lines announced it is extending its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv through September 5. In addition, the launch of its planned Boston route has been postponed until further notice.
The Lufthansa Group said Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines are extending their suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv through May 31. Eurowings and Lufthansa Cargo will suspend flights to Israel through April 30.
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it is suspending flights to Israel through April 20, inclusive.
Aegean Airlines announced it is suspending flights to Tel Aviv through April 30.
British Airways has canceled its flights to Tel Aviv through May 31.
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The Lufthansa Group said Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines are extending their flight suspensions through May 31
(Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock)
Flydubai has extended its flight cancellations to Tel Aviv through the end of April, meaning passengers in the East who planned to connect via the airline will be unable to do so in the near term.
ITA Airways said it is suspending flights to Tel Aviv through April 10.
Iberia Express, the low-cost arm of IAG, has canceled all flights to Tel Aviv through March 28.
LOT Polish Airlines said all flights to Tel Aviv are canceled through May 31.
Air Baltic announced it is canceling all flights to Tel Aviv through May 31.
Air Europa has canceled flights to Tel Aviv through May 3.
Sky Express has canceled flights to Tel Aviv through March 31.
Air France has canceled its flights to Tel Aviv through April 19.
KLM said it is suspending flights to Tel Aviv through March 28.
Animawings, the Romanian airline, has canceled its flights to Israel through March 31.
Flydubai has also canceled flights to Israel through March 28.
Ethiopian Airlines has canceled flights to Tel Aviv through April 16.
Norwegian Air has postponed the resumption of flights to Israel until June 15.
Etihad Airways has suspended flights to Tel Aviv through April 16.
Air Seychelles has canceled flights to Israel through April 30.
TAP Air Portugal has canceled flights through May 1.
easyJet said it will not operate flights to Tel Aviv during the upcoming summer season.