El Al Resumes Flights as Israeli Airspace Reopens
El Al Israel Airlines has begun restoring its flight operations to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport following the reopening of Israeli airspace, which had been closed for 12 days due to heightened regional conflict. In a statement released on June 25, El Al confirmed that it is resuming services in phases, with full operations expected to return in the coming days, in accordance with guidance from aviation and security authorities.
The suspension of flights stemmed from a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran that began on June 13. The conflict led to widespread airspace closures across Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, significantly disrupting commercial aviation in the region. Tensions peaked after U.S. air strikes targeted Iranian assets, which prompted Iran to launch missile attacks on a U.S. military base in Qatar on June 23. While a fragile ceasefire has since been established between Israel and Iran, mutual accusations of truce violations have continued.
During the shutdown, El Al said it suffered financial losses of around $4 million per day. Although it operated a limited number of repatriation flights during the disruption, the financial impact remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the airline remains confident that demand will rebound in the coming months, leading to stronger booking volumes and higher aircraft occupancy.
El Al is focusing on ramping up operations to key global markets including major destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia. These include cities such as Athens, Bangkok, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Rome. Prior to the suspension, the airline was operating 50 international routes from Ben Gurion Airport, offering more than 68,000 weekly departure seats, according to data from OAG Schedules Analyser.
The reopening of Israeli airspace also prompted Iraq to lift its airspace restrictions. Early signs of regional air traffic recovery have emerged, with flight tracking data showing the return of some commercial services, including a Kuwait Airways flight from Kuwait City to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
Despite the financial setback, El Al sees the potential for a swift rebound as travel confidence returns and airspace conditions stabilize. The airline’s phased return to service reflects both the ongoing security environment and its intention to meet renewed demand for international travel as conditions improve.
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