Tel aviv: Israeli flag carrier El Al announced on Wednesday the cancellation of flights scheduled for next week to 28 destinations due to operational restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
According to Anadolu Agency, the airline revealed that these cancellations affect flights originally planned for March 21-27, including return journeys. The decision follows directives from the Home Front Command, necessitated by the current restrictions on airport operations.
The affected destinations include Barcelona, Berlin, Belgrade, Boston, Marseille, Bucharest, Vienna, Venice, and Larnaca on the island of Cyprus. El Al has promised to provide further updates on other destinations as the situation evolves and official instructions are received.
The airline acknowledged that, due to the current restrictions, it is unable to offer alternative flights for customers impacted by the cancellations. Affected customers are entitled to a full refund or a credit voucher for future use on El Al flights.
In a related development, Israel's Channel 12 reported a reduction in the number of passengers departing Israel starting Wednesday evening. This measure comes in response to increased missile attacks near Ben Gurion Airport. There will be a cap of approximately 130 outbound passengers per flight from midnight through Saturday evening, with further assessments scheduled over the weekend to decide on the continuation of operations.
Earlier reports from Israeli media indicated that three private aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport sustained damage in recent days due to Iranian missile strikes, although there were no casualties. One aircraft was reported to have been completely destroyed by fire, according to Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
The US and Israel have been conducting a joint offensive against Iran since February 28, resulting in approximately 1,300 fatalities, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military forces, leading to casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions in global markets and aviation.