Israel’s airlines sharply scaled back operations Monday after new government restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport forced a drastic reduction in flights, with El Al announcing a shift to what it called “essential operations only.”
The move follows a Transportation Ministry decision to tighten activity at the airport, limiting departures to one flight per hour and capping outbound passengers at around 50 per flight, amid a renewed security assessment after recent incidents.
El Al said it had reduced its schedule from 22 destinations to just seven, operating limited flights to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome and Athens. The airline said its flight schedule would continue to be updated in the coming hours, with passengers receiving direct notifications.
Passenger placement will be based on original ticket dates, with priority given to humanitarian and urgent medical cases, the company said. Incoming flights on those routes will operate without restrictions on passenger numbers.
“The strict limitations on activity at Ben Gurion Airport mean a transition to essential flight operations only, aimed at preserving Israel’s air bridge with the world,” El Al said, adding that all decisions were made based on safety and operational considerations.
Passengers whose flights were canceled will be eligible for a full refund or a voucher for future use.
Israir also announced a reduction in destinations, saying it would operate flights only to nearby locations, including Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Tbilisi and Addis Ababa, the latter also serving humanitarian needs. The airline said these destinations would function as hubs for onward travel.
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Israir to operate flights only to nearby locations
(Photo: Ronen Fefer/ Shutterstock)
All flights purchased through April 8, 2026, will be canceled under the new framework. Affected passengers will be offered either a full refund or a credit voucher worth 130% of the ticket price, valid for 24 months.
The new restrictions, introduced Sunday, significantly tighten an already limited framework, reducing outbound passenger capacity from about 120 to around 50 per flight and allowing only one takeoff per hour. Officials said the measures were based on security considerations and could change depending on developments.
The latest move marks a renewed contraction of Israel’s aviation activity after a brief period of easing, leaving many travelers stranded ahead of the Passover holiday and prompting airlines to warn that normal operations are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.