Summary
- A national strike shuts down Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).
- Thousands protest across major cities, demanding a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.
- Recent airport closure may lead to flight disruptions for up to 72 hours.
Israel’s Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) has been shut down due to a national strike against the Netanyahu government. The strikes followed the announcement that the bodies of six hostages had been retrieved from the Gaza Strip. The nationwide protests demand that the Israeli government agree to a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.
The airport’s closure
Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in Tel Aviv and other major cities, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a deal for the return of hostages.
Photo: Mike Fuchslocher | Shutterstock
The strike has also impacted the country’s main airport, which was closed for two hours from 8:00 to 10:00 AM local time, according to a report by the local news media outlet Israel Hayom.
The airport closure could disrupt flights not only today but also throughout the coming week. Senior aviation industry officials informed Israel Hayom that even a three-hour closure could lead to flight schedule disruptions lasting up to 72 hours. Sources within the Histadrut, Israel’s General Organization of Workers, estimate TLV airport will be closed for several hours, though the exact duration has yet to be determined.
Not the first time
This is not the first time the airport has been shut down over the past couple of weeks. On August 25, 2024, TLV airport was temporarily closed amid a cross-border escalation with the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Incoming flights were diverted, and outbound travel was temporarily halted.
Following the closure, foreign airlines suspended their flights to the country amid growing security fears. In a statement to Reuters, the French flag carrier Air France said that it canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut at least until August 26, 2024.
Security fears
Since late July, concerns over a possible war in the Middle East have led several international airlines to cancel their flights to Israel. With the situation in the Middle East still tense, major carriers around the world, including the big three US airlines, continue to suspend flights to Israel.
Photo: lorenzatx | Shutterstock
Delta Air Lines has extended its suspension of flights to Israel until September 30, 2024. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has once again severely impacted nonstop services between the United States and Israel. United Airlines had also suspended its Tel Aviv flights from Newark International Airport (EWR) indefinitely for security reasons earlier this month.
On August 16, 2024, American Airlines announced that it would suspend flights to Israel up until March 29, 2025, with the carrier extending its absence from the country for another few months.