Tensions soared in the Middle East after Iran launched a surprise drone and missile attack on Israel late Saturday night. In response, several regional countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and even Israel itself, temporarily closed their airspace. This closure caused major disruptions to flight schedules, with some airlines canceling flights altogether. By Sunday morning, Israel deemed its airspace safe and reopened it at 7:30 am local time.
.gif)
Israeli airlines, like El Al, wasted no time resuming operations and vowed to stabilize their schedules as soon as possible. El Al emphasized its commitment to maintaining the vital air bridge to and from Israel. However, the reopening of Israeli airspace wasn't enough to completely restore normalcy. Flights from Tel Aviv were still expected to face delays and cancellations. Travelers were urged to check their flight times before heading to Ben Gurion Airport to avoid unnecessary hassle.
The reason for the continued disruptions stemmed from the cautious approach of other airlines. Even though Israel reopened its airspace, some carriers, particularly from the Arab world and even India, opted to cancel flights to and from Iran. This reflected the heightened tensions in the region following the Iranian attack. The situation highlighted the delicate balance between safety concerns and maintaining air travel operations.
While Israel deemed its airspace safe for domestic flights to resume, some airlines remained cautious, likely waiting for further reassurances or a de-escalation of tensions before resuming normal operations. The coming days will be crucial in determining the full impact of the Iranian attack on regional air travel. With Israel reopening its airspace, a gradual return to normalcy is expected. However, the decisions of other airlines, especially those from neighboring countries, will play a significant role in how quickly the situation stabilizes.