US airlines have halted flights to Israel. What’s going on at South Florida airports?

U.S.-Israel travel has become more challenging following the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ deadly attack against the country.

American carriers have halted flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport — with at least one U.S. airline also limiting flights to Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport. There are no active airports in Gaza or the West Bank because Israel controls the airspace.

Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank must obtain permits, which are often denied, to be able to travel abroad. Those who have the opportunity to travel usually do so through Jordan, which has become increasingly challenging. However, in 2022, Israel began allowing some Palestinians to travel to Turkey from the southern city of Eilat’s Ramon airport. Palestinians in Gaza can also cross a land border controlled by Egypt, though it only opens a few times a year.

Here’s what to know about possible flight impacts between Israel and South Florida:

What’s going on with U.S. carriers?

American Airlines has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv through Dec. 4.

Delta has suspended flights to and from Israel through Oct. 31, though an advisory states travel may be affected until September 2024.

United has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Amman, Jordan until Oct. 31.

What’s the situation in the Miami airport?

Miami hasn’t seen a decrease in flights to or from Israel, airport spokesperson Greg Chin said. El Al Israel Airlines, Israel’s national airline, is the only carrier with nonstop service between MIA and Tel Aviv. So far, it hasn’t made changes to its six weekly scheduled flights.

However, many travelers may fly out of Miami and stop at a connecting airport before making it to Israel.

“We have no way of tracking what passengers are now not flying to a connecting airport (i.e. New York JFK) because that airport no longer has flights to Israel,” Chin said. “Flights between MIA and other connecting airports continue because there are connecting flights from those airports to many other cities outside of Tel Aviv.”

What’s the situation in Fort Lauderdale?

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport currently only has seasonal nonstop service to Tel Aviv through El Al Airlines, airport spokesperson Arlene Satchell said. The last flight on the airline’s seasonal schedule will operate “as previously planned” on Thursday.

“For the remaining El Al seasonal flights this week, FLL will have a heightened law enforcement and security posture in an abundance of caution,” Satchell said. “As such, passengers are likely to see uniformed law enforcement personnel in airport areas where El Al flights operate.”

Satchell also said El Al will begin year-round service to Tel Aviv from the Fort Lauderdale airport in April 2024.