



Popular low-cost airline Wizz Air announced on Tuesday that it was canceling all its flights to and from Israel until January 15 amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, compounding the crisis in wartime air travel to and from the Jewish state.
The cancelations came despite the European Union saying last week that it was lifting its recommendation as of October 31 that international airlines avoid flying in Israeli airspace.
Wizz is a popular choice for Israelis traveling to European destinations. According to the Kan public broadcaster, the Hungarian airline’s cancelations will raise prices to locations throughout Europe.
While Wizz nixed its flights for the next three months, it is not the only airline to suspend air travel to and from Israel for an extended period, with Virgin Atlantic not due to renew flights until March 30.
Following the lifting of the EU recommendation, Blue Bird said last week that it was preparing to renew its Israel operations but has not set a date to do so.
Meanwhile, Air Europa, Air France, RyanAir and ITA Airways are scheduled to renew their flights to and from Israel next week. They are set to be joined by British Airways, Iberia, Bulgaria Air, Air Baltic, the Lufthansa Group and Lot the following week.
Aegean is scheduled to return to Israel on November 5, and Delta and KLM are not expected to renew Israel operations until December 31.
Other prominent airlines — United, Air Canada, and American Airlines — are among airlines who have canceled all flights to and from Israel until further notice.
Meanwhile, Fly Dubai, Etihad, Smart Wings, Tarom, Ethiopian Airlines and Tus Air have renewed Israel operations.
As a result of the reduced international flights, Ben Gurion Airport announced that it was moving all international flights that were scheduled to depart from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 until Sunday.
Foreign airlines have repeatedly canceled their flights to and from Israel in the past year amid the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, tensions with Hezbollah and two missile attacks on Israel by Iran in April and October.
The cancelations have been especially common in recent months, as Israel escalated its response to Hezbollah’s near-daily rocket and drone attacks — including on central Israel — and came under the second attack from Iran in which the Islamic Republic launched some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, forcing it to close its airspace for a couple of hours.