El Al Cuts Flights; United Suspends Tel Aviv Until Sept

El Al has suspended its regular flight schedule through April 18 as ongoing conflict and airspace restrictions continue to severely limit operations at Ben Gurion Airport, forcing thousands of additional cancellations and prolonging disruption for travelers.

Instead of its standard network, El Al is operating a reduced emergency schedule focused on key international gateways, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Bangkok, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. Due to limited seat availability, the airline said passengers are being reassigned based on original ticket issue dates, with priority given to urgent humanitarian and medical cases.

Israeli authorities have slightly eased outbound restrictions, increasing the number of passengers allowed on departing flights to 100 per aircraft, up from 80. However, overall airport capacity remains tightly constrained, with operations limited to approximately one flight per hour. Officials indicated this could rise to two per hour depending on security conditions in the coming days.

Since the outbreak of war with Iran on February 28, Israel’s airspace has remained largely closed to foreign commercial carriers. Only Israeli airlines, including El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa, are currently permitted to operate limited inbound and outbound services under strict government guidelines.

Other Israeli carriers are also scaling back. Arkia has suspended ticket sales for its regular schedule through April 25 while maintaining limited flights to destinations such as Athens, Larnaca, New York, and Bangkok. Israir has canceled regular operations through at least April 8.

International airlines continue to extend suspensions as uncertainty persists. United Airlines has pushed back the resumption of its New York–Tel Aviv service until at least September 7, citing ongoing safety concerns. The carrier had previously planned to resume flights in mid-June. Similarly, Delta Air Lines has extended its suspension of routes from New York and Atlanta to Tel Aviv through September 5.

The prolonged disruption underscores the critical role Tel Aviv plays in global connectivity and the broader impact of regional instability on international aviation. With limited capacity, strict controls, and uncertain timelines, airlines and passengers alike face continued challenges as the situation evolves.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, timesofisrael.com