It seems the current conflict between Israel and Palestine is beginning to impact airlines, after a rocket landing near 1 mile away from Ben Gurion Airport.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) stating prohibiting landing at Tel Aviv for 24 hours stating:
“U.S. airlines that they are prohibited from flying to or from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours. The notice was issued in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from Ben Gurion International Airport on the morning of July 22, 2014. The NOTAM applies only to U.S. operators, and has no authority over foreign airlines operating to or from the airport.”
The FAA Press Release with the full NOTAM is at http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=16694
All US Airlines have reacted, with US Airways not operating its Philadelphia to Tel Aviv service today, United scrapping its services and Delta diverting one of its services en-route to Tel Aviv to Paris CDG.
Both Delta and United have suspended services for now until further notice.
European carriers are reacting the situation, with airlines making their own plans and actions. Lufthansa Group Airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss) choose not to fly to Tel Aviv for the next 36 hours as well as Air France and KLM. Brussels Airlines will not be operating services for the next three days.
Other carriers are monitoring the situation, with EasyJet allowing changes in tickets, whilst British Airways will continue to operate services until advice changes from other sources.
The Israeli Transportation Ministry has asked the airlines to reverse their decision, saying the airport was “safe for landings and departures” according to the BBC.
Expect changes, delays and cancellations, as well as heightened security on these routes.
