Several United States-based airlines have canceled all flights to Israel's largest international airport in the wake of the deadly terror attacks by militant group Hamas and Israel's stern response.
Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, located just outside Tel Aviv, is less than 40 miles from Gaza, where rocket barrages soar over the territory. With Israel declaring war against Hamas and the conflict raging, airlines have taken steps to protect their travelers and interests. Here is what you need to know about travel to and from Tel Aviv.
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Delta Airlines made the most noteworthy decision when it announced that all flights through the rest of October to Tel Aviv would be canceled. The airline's previous travel alert suspended flights through this week.
The company has provided information for rebooking flights and added that it plans to work with the U.S. government to help with returning U.S. citizens who want to come back home, per the Hill.
American Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv through Friday as it monitors the rapidly changing situation in Israel. The company issued a travel alert with notices about its policies and fees.
While United Airlines moved forward with two scheduled flights to Tel Aviv over the weekend, its flights will "remain suspended until conditions allow them to resume." The airline announced a travel alert for the area with options for travelers.
Israel's EL AL Airlines said it operates based on instructions from Israel's armed forces. It announced that its flights "are operated as scheduled." However, the flights departing from Tel Aviv are all leaving from one terminal.
The U.S. State Department's latest travel advisory told American citizens wishing to leave Israel to monitor flights from Ben Gurion International Airport. "U.S. citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt," it added.
Several international airlines have also suspended flights to Tel Aviv, albeit for different durations, including Air Canada, Ireland’s Ryanair, and Germany's Lufthansa.
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On Monday, 142 flights were canceled at Ben Gurion, with another 172 being delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. The number of cancellations within, into, or out of the U.S. on Monday at the Tell Aviv airport was 14.
Nearly 1,600 people in Israel and Palestine, Hamas soldiers included, have died after the militant group launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday. Hamas is believed to have 150 hostages and has vowed to execute them if attacks targeted civilians without warning.