Germany’s Lufthansa Group and Hungary-based Wizz Air have announced the resumption of flights to Tel Aviv, Israel, following the recently brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Lufthansa will restart operations on February 1, while Wizz Air resumed its London to Tel Aviv route on Thursday.
The return of flights marks a cautious re-engagement by airlines in a region recently disrupted by conflict. Many Western carriers had suspended services to destinations such as Beirut and Tel Aviv, as well as avoiding Iraqi and Iranian airspace, due to fears of drone and missile warfare.
Lufthansa Group’s decision includes its subsidiaries Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss. Ryanair is optimistic about running a full summer schedule to and from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, as confirmed in an interview prior to the ceasefire agreement.
Wizz Air also resumed flights to Amman, Jordan, from London Luton Airport, reflecting a broader effort to rebuild regional connectivity. Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines plans to resume flights to Damascus, Syria, from January 23, offering three flights per week following the end of the Assad regime.
However, airlines remain cautious about fully re-entering the region. British carrier EasyJet welcomed the ceasefire but stated that it would review its plans in the coming days.
Air France-KLM has opted to keep flights between Paris and Tel Aviv suspended until January 24, and those between Paris and Beirut suspended until January 31, pending further assessment of the ground situation. Similarly, Lufthansa confirmed its flights to Tehran remain suspended until February 14, while services to Beirut are halted until February 28.
The cautious approach by airlines underscores ongoing concerns about safety and stability in the region despite the ceasefire.
Melissa Enoch
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