Turkey Blocks Israeli Gov’t Flights, Not Commercial

Türkiye’s government has confirmed a ban on Israeli government flights and aircraft carrying munitions, but commercial flights remain unaffected despite earlier claims of a broader restriction. The clarification followed remarks from Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who told parliament on August 29, 2025, that Israel’s planes were no longer permitted in Turkish airspace as part of a wider suspension of trade and economic ties.

Fidan’s comments came after lawmakers passed a resolution denouncing Israeli military actions in Gaza as genocide. He accused Israel of creating a humanitarian crisis and destabilizing the wider region through operations not only in Gaza but also in neighboring countries such as Syria.

While his remarks initially suggested a complete ban, subsequent reporting by Reuters indicated that the restriction applies only to government and military-related flights. Commercial services remain unaffected, and Israeli carriers continue to operate through Turkish airspace.

Flight-tracking data shows El Al, Israir, and Arkia aircraft are still flying over Türkiye on routes to Europe and the Caucasus. No official Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) has been issued that would block civilian overflights, reinforcing the limited scope of the ban.

Türkiye and Israel have long had strained relations, with tensions worsening since the Hamas attacks of October 2023 and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza. All direct commercial flights between the two nations were suspended after the conflict. In April 2025, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines gave up their remaining slots at Tel Aviv, signaling no imminent return to the Israeli market.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com