Delta to cancel flights into Tel Aviv for rest of month
Delta Airlines will cancel flights into Tel Aviv through the rest of October in the wake of the fighting between Israel forces and Hamas, the airline announced Monday.
A spokesperson for Delta confirmed to The Hill that all flights to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv have been cancelled through Oct. 31.
“Our hearts are with those who are impacted as our people work to find safe alternatives for customers trying to depart TLV,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
The cancellation extends Delta’s previous travel alert, which suspended flights to Tel Aviv through this week.
In its most recent travel alert on its website, Delta said it will issue travel waivers for rebooked flights traveling on or before Nov. 30, 2023. If passengers cannot rebook for a flight on or before Nov. 30, Delta said they can cancel their reservation and use the credit for a new ticket within one year of the original travel date.
Delta said it will “continue to explore options” with available seats on its partner airlines for those looking to safely exit Tel Aviv.
The spokesperson told The Hill that Delta plans to work with the U.S. government as needed to help with the return of U.S. citizens looking to return home.
The announcement follows a series of temporary flight suspensions to Tel Aviv from several airlines, including United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada, among others.
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.” Passengers are also being advised to “exercise increased caution” when traveling to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest, the State Department said.
In an update Sunday, the State Department said the situation “remains dynamic” while warning of mortar or rocket fire taking place without warning.
Israel and Hamas members entered their third day of fighting Monday, following an onslaught of surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday.
Hamas is the governing authority in Gaza, and it is recognized as a terrorist group by the United States government. It does not recognize Israel’s right to exist as a state and has taken out attacks on civilians, as it did Saturday. It has also taken hostages.
At least 900 people in Israel, including both soldiers and civilians, have died, and the death toll is expected to rise, according to The Associated Press.
An additional 680 people have been killed in Gaza so far as Israel continues to ramp up its counteroffensive against Hamas, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
This story was updated at 6:39 p.m.
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