Turkish airlines Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines, as well as British carrier Virgin Atlantic, which suspended flights to Israel following the outbreak of the war in October 2023, have announced that they will not resume operations to Ben-Gurion Airport.
Before the war, Turkish Airlines operated up to 16 flights a day to Israel, and Istanbul Airport served as a key hub for Israeli travelers making connecting flights to numerous destinations worldwide.
Virgin Atlantic, which only began operating in Israel in September 2019, had offered two daily flights on the Tel Aviv–London route. In November, the airline announced plans to resume flights in October 2025, but it has now officially stated it will not return to Israel following what it described as a "thorough review" of the situation.
Shirley Cohen-Arakbi, deputy CEO of Eshet Tours, told Ynet: "This is not good news, but it’s also not a dramatic development. The gap left by foreign airlines that canceled their operations at Ben-Gurion has been filled by both Israeli and other foreign carriers, and no shortage of flights is expected. For example, when it comes to connecting flights, the United Arab Emirates has now become a central hub for flights to the Far East, and we expect to see additional new routes opening to replace the canceled slots."
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In a statement, Virgin Atlantic said: "Customers impacted by the cancellation who booked directly through Virgin Atlantic will be notified by email starting May 10, 2025, and the cancellation will also be reflected in the 'My Bookings' section on our website at that time. We apologize for the inconvenience and remain committed to delivering the highest level of service during this transitional period."
The airline added: "Although we will no longer operate direct flights on this route, we remain committed to serving our customers traveling between Israel and the United Kingdom through our codeshare partnership with El Al."
Virgin Atlantic is the only British airline with such a partnership with El Al, enabling seamless connections between Tel Aviv and London Heathrow, with up to four daily flights. The partnership will provide customers with flexibility, a wide range of options, and convenient connections to destinations across Israel, the UK, and the United States — including Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and Atlanta."
First published: 12:32, 04.28.25