More airlines cut flights to Tel Aviv
Air Canada last night joined US airlines in canceling flights to Israel for the next 24 hours following reports of a rocket attack close to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
The carrier said it will "evaluate the situation" in the coming days after the Federal Aviation Administration banned all US flights to the country yesterday.
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways’ flights to Israel were halted and the FAA said it would update information "as soon as conditions permit."
Several European airlines also followed suit, which was criticized by Israel’s Transportation Ministry, insisting travel to the country remains safe, and calling the flight ban "a surrender to terrorism."
Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and budget carrier Easyjet have grounded planes for the time being, but British Airways continues to fly.
State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said the Israeli government was informed of the FAA ban before it came into effect.
Transport Minister Yisrael Katz planned to open Ovda airport in the south to international flights and vowed to step up arrangements to bring home 4,000 Israeli vacationers currently stranded in Turkey.
Following the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet on July 17 in Ukraine, there is an abundance of caution with airlines taking a more proactive approach.
"It’s really forcing every carrier and business jet operator to do their own due diligence, do their own risk assessment given the geopolitical situation," said aviation consultant Robert Mann.
The State Department reissued a "longstanding strong warning" against any travel to the Gaza Strip and advised against non-essential travel to Israel and the West Bank
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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