Several international airlines are resuming service to Israel following the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s broader Middle East peace initiative. The improved geopolitical climate is also influencing aviation and travel to the region.
Spanish carrier Iberia, British Airways and Germany’s Eurowings announced on Wednesday that they will end their flight suspensions and resume service to Israel this month. Scandinavian airline SAS, which has not operated flights to Israel in nearly a decade, will begin offering two weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates' flag carrier, announced a 25% increase in flights to Tel Aviv following the end of Israel's war against Iran in June. The carrier currently operates a route between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, and starting in December, it will expand from 28 to 35 flights per month. Etihad said the move reflects its commitment to expanding operations in Israel and improving connectivity from Abu Dhabi to key destinations in Asia. The added flights are expected to lower fares to popular destinations such as Bangkok and Zanzibar, as well as Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hanoi and Taipei.
Greek carrier Sky Express will also begin operating daily flights from Tel Aviv to Athens starting in December, offering a range of onward connections. Turkish Airlines continues to monitor the political situation between Israel and Turkey amid hopes of resuming service despite ongoing tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem.
Talks are also ongoing with Ryanair to explore a potential return to Israel. The airline recently announced it would not resume operations this winter, citing the Israel Airports Authority’s refusal to guarantee the reopening of Terminal 1 or allocate flight slots for summer 2026. With the war over, the threat of Terminal 1 closure has passed and aviation activity at Ben Gurion Airport is increasing. However, the Airports Authority has yet to make preparations for Ryanair’s return, suspecting the airline is looking for excuses to shift its aircraft elsewhere to avoid compensation demands related to its winter cancellations.