Amid growing safety worries and Israel’s increased military response to the Hamas attack over the weekend, British Airways revealed its decision to temporarily halt flights to and from Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
The United Kingdom airline made headlines by rerouting one of its London Heathrow to Tel Aviv flights mid-air, citing security apprehensions in Israel and the neighboring area. Shortly thereafter, the airline revealed the suspension of all Tel Aviv flights.
On Wednesday, Israel kept up its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and expanded its operations into southern Lebanon, responding to rocket attacks from Palestinian militant groups’ armed factions.
‘Safety is always our highest priority and following the latest assessment of the situation we’re suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv,’ British Airways said in a statement.
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‘We’re contacting customers booked to travel to or from Tel Aviv to apologise for the inconvenience and offer options including a full refund and rebooking with another airline or with British Airways at a later date.’
‘We continue to monitor the situation in the region closely,’ it added.
Major airlines, including Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and leading U.S. international carriers, have all decided to suspend their flights to Tel Aviv since Hamas launched its assault on Israel last Saturday.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are upholding their flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv, providing a consistent travel option despite disruptions caused by other airlines.
With the expectation of an Israeli ground intervention into Gaza, where Hamas launched a multi-pronged attack by land, air, and sea on Saturday, there is a surge in concerns about a broader regional confrontation.
With the death toll in Israel exceeding 900, making it the deadliest attack in the country’s 75-year history, Gaza has reported 765 casualties. Additionally, Israel’s army has uncovered the bodies of approximately 1,500 militants.