Airlines suspend flights to Tel Aviv in wake of Hamas attacks
A number of airlines have suspended flights to Israel in the wake of the ongoing attacks between the country and Palestinian militant group Hamas that have left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
United Airlines said it operated two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday, but it has suspended flights to Tel Aviv “until conditions allow them to resume.”
United Airlines issued a travel alert for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv from Oct. 7-14. Those impacted who fall under certain criteria can reschedule their trip with waived fees and fare differences, the airline said.
Air Canada announced it is temporarily suspending flights to Israel as of Sunday, impacting flights scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday between Tel Aviv and Toronto and Montreal.
Those who choose to change their flight to another date between Sunday and Oct. 21 can do so free of charge, while those who cancel entirely will receive a full refund the airline said.
American Airlines also issued a travel alert on Sunday for those traveling to, through and from Tel Aviv, allowing passengers with flights scheduled between Oct. 7-21 to change their flights for a waived fee under certain conditions.
Delta Airlines said it canceled flights to Tel Aviv through this week and will continue to make schedule adjustments as needed. In a travel alert online, the airline said it would issue travel waivers for rebooked flights traveling on or before Oct. 21.
If passengers cannot rebook on or before Oct. 21, Delta said they can cancel their reservation and use the credit for a new ticket that is valid for one year from the original ticket date.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Gaza, urging people not to travel to the region “due to terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict.”
The State Department said passengers should “exercise increased caution” when traveling to Israel and the West Bank “due to terrorism and civil unrest.”
In an update Sunday, the State Department said the situation “remains dynamic” while warning of mortar or rocket fire taking place without warning.
The series of cancellations comes after a series of surprise attacks from Hamas, the militant and political group that rules Gaza, on Saturday.
Israel’s military has escalated its retaliatory attacks over the past two days, launching airstrikes into Gaza.
The death toll surpassed 1,100 individuals on both sides Sunday, with thousands more Israelis and Palestinians wounded.
Ben Gurion International Airport remained open as of Sunday night, with flight tracker FlightAware showing arrivals and departures at the airport.
The State Department said Sunday that U.S. citizens in Gaza looking to leave and can safely do so should check the status of the Rafah Crossing, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
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