What’s the story
Several major airlines have extended their suspension of flights to and from Israel and Lebanon due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The recent escalation in tensions was triggered by Israel’s limited ground operation in Lebanon, aimed at targeting Hezbollah strongholds.
This operation came after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last week and on Tuesday, approximately 200 missiles were fired by Iran, targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Ground operation in Lebanon escalates regional tensions
Amid this strife, top airlines including Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates and Swiss have announced flight suspensions to and from Israel, Iran and Lebanon.
Dutch airline KLM has put a hold on its flights to Tel Aviv until the end of the year “given the situation in the region,” spokeswoman Elvira van der Vis told AFP.
German airline Lufthansa also announced flight suspensions to Beirut till November 30, Tel Aviv until October 31 and Tehran till October 14.
Emirates and other airlines cancel flights due to rising tensions
Emirates has called off its flights to and from Iraq, Iran, and Jordan for Wednesday and Thursday.
The Dubai-based airline had earlier extended its flight suspension to and from Beirut until October 8.
Egyptair has also indefinitely suspended all its flights to Beirut, and Jordan’s Royal Jordanian has halted flights to the Lebanese capital “due to the current situation.”
Several airlines suspend flights to Beirut ‘until further notice’
Iran Air, Iraqi Airways, Bahrain‘s Gulf Air, and Qatar Airways have all hit the brakes on flights to Beirut “until further notice.”
Sharjah’s Air Arabia and budget airline flydubai are also pausing their flights to Beirut.
Italy’s ITA Airways has pushed back its flight suspension to Tel Aviv until October 31, while British Airways has canceled its Tel Aviv flights until October 7.
Air France and Middle East Airlines adjust flight schedules
Air France has announced that its Paris-Tel Aviv and Paris-Beirut flights were canceled until October 8.
More airlines are expected to cancel their flights to Lebanon, Israel and Iran as the situation worsens in the region.
The European Union had previously asked air carriers to avoid Lebanese and Israeli airspace for the coming month as Israel continued to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
Middle East Airlines, Lebanon’s national carrier, is currently the only airline operating from Beirut.