America’s three major airlines cancelled all flights to Israel as its prime minister declared a state of war and launched airstrikes in Gaza after Hamas militants rained rockets on Israeli towns this weekend.
Delta and American Airlines canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv through the weekend, according to The Wall Street Journal.
United Flight 954 was on its way from San Francisco to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport early Saturday.
It was flying over Greenland when United decided to turn around and head back towards the US as the Israel-Hamas conflict worsened, per The Journal.
United then temporarily suspended service to Tel Aviv.
A United spokesperson told The Post that flights “will remain suspended until conditions allow them to resume.”
Meanwhile, American confirmed that it “has temporarily suspended operations to and from Tel Aviv, and has issued a travel alert providing additional flexibility to customers whose travel plans are affected.”
“We continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” a spokesperson for the airline told The Post.
Delta did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
In all, airlines cancelled 44% of scheduled flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday, according to Bloomberg, based on data from Flighttrader24.com.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration last issued a statement on Saturday that urges US airlines and pilots “to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace.”
“The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), which mirrors the alert issued by the Israeli government, applies to all altitudes,” the FAA added.
The NOTAM alert echoes the FAA’s sentiment, telling operators to “exercise extreme caution” in the Tel Aviv region.
The US State Department has also advised Americans to proceed with “increased caution” when traveling to Israel or the West Bank, citing “terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict.”
“The situation in Israel remains dynamic; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning. Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials,” the federal agency warned in a Monday update.
The State Department advised US citizens in Gaza wishing to flee safely to use the Rafah Crossing into Egypt.
The lifeline crossing is the only passageway between Egypt and Gaza, where people must line up to receive a passport stamp before being allowed to pass through.
European airlines Deutsche Lufthansa, Air France and low-cost carrier Wizz Air also temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv.
British Airways, Dubai’s Emirates and FlyDubai, meanwhile, were still offering flights to the warn-torn Israeli city as of Monday, according to Bloomberg.
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British Airways launched a flexible booking policy during this time to allow customers to change their itineraries free of charge, and has adjusted its own schedule so flights to Tel Aviv leave London Heathrow airport in the morning rather than late afternoon, Bloomberg reported.
UK-based Virgin Atlantic also canceled flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.
Israel’s flagship airline, El Al Israel, and regional carriers Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Hava have continued to offer flights out of the nation.
Israeli airspace being off limits complicates routes for airlines looking to reach hubs in the Persian Gulf and beyond, including popular destinations like Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Israel declared a state of war over the weekend after the Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel — the biggest attack on the nation in 50 years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned citizens that the war would be “long and difficult” but vowed to take “mighty vengeance” against Hamas.
As of Monday, an estimated 800 Israelis have been killed.
More than 2,000 are wounded, and 100 are confirmed to have been taken captive by Hamas since the war began.