European authorities on Saturday urged European airline companies to avoid Lebanese and Israeli airspace amid escalating tensions between the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist militia and Israel.
In a joint statement, the European Commission and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), noted “an overall intensification of air strikes and degradation in the security situation.”
It consequently officially urged airline companies “not to operate within the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels.”
While the recommendations officially last until Oct. 31, the statement stressed that they “can be reviewed earlier and adapted or withdrawn” if it is assessed that the security situation has improved.
“EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of risks for EU aircraft operators as a result of the evolution of the threat,” the organization stated, adding “an overall intensification of air strikes and degradation in the security situation.”
On Saturday, the popular Hungarian low-fare airline company Wizz Air, which offers flights between Israel and several European destinations, announced it would halt all its flights to and from Israel for 48 hours. The decision caused several Wizz Air flights bound for Israel to return mid-air to their original destinations.
While the EASA has advised against travel to Israel, the Ben-Gurion International Airport announced it will continue operating as usual. However, international airline companies are increasingly unwilling to operate during a period of heightened tensions between Israel and the Iranian-led terrorist axis.
In April, most foreign airline companies canceled their flights to Israel after the Iranian regime fired some 300 aerial projectiles into Israel, which were largely intercepted by Israel and an American-led international alliance.
In early August, international airline companies once again canceled their flights to Israel after the IDF eliminated the top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon. While not officially taking responsibility, Israel was also blamed for the elimination of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The periodic decline in available flights to Israel has resulted in a dramatic increase in the cost of flights to and from the Jewish state.