Top European airlines Lufthansa, KLM, and Swiss announced on Tuesday that they are extending the suspension of flights to the Middle East due to increasing regional tensions.
This decision follows Israel’s airstrikes on Beirut and a warning from a senior White House official about an imminent ballistic missile attack by Iran targeting Israel.
KLM has extended its suspension of daily flights to Tel Aviv until the end of the year due to the ongoing situation, according to spokeswoman Elvira van der Vis. The airline had initially suspended flights to Israel until October 26.
Similarly, Lufthansa, the German airline group, has suspended flights to Beirut through November 30.
Major Airlines Suspend Flights
Several major airlines have decided to continue suspending flights to and from Israel and Lebanon due to rising tensions in the Middle East. This situation worsened after Iran launched missile attacks on Israel. Even though Israeli airspace has now reopened following the missile strikes and flights were expected to resume shortly, airlines are being cautious and have extended their flight suspensions.
The region is on the verge of a possible large-scale war. Tensions increased after Israel carried out a small ground operation in Lebanon, aimed at Hezbollah strongholds. This happened after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, was killed in an airstrike last week.
Well-known airlines like Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates, and Swiss have all announced that they are stopping flights to and from Israel, Iran, and Lebanon for now. The Middle East has already been dealing with conflict since October 7 of last year, when the war between Israel and Hamas began in Gaza.
With the situation becoming even more dangerous, airlines are choosing to halt their services in the area to ensure the safety of their passengers and crews.
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Which Airlines Cancel Flights to the Middle East?
Due to the ongoing conflict in the region, several airlines have halted their services. As Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon and Gaza, along with threats of further retaliatory strikes, airlines have responded by suspending flights to affected areas.
KLM (Dutch Airline)
KLM has canceled all its flights to Tel Aviv for the rest of the year. According to KLM’s spokeswoman Elvira van der Vis, this decision was made due to the escalating situation in the region. Previously, in August, KLM had suspended flights to Israel until October 26.
Lufthansa (German Airline)
Lufthansa has also taken precautionary measures, suspending flights to multiple destinations:
- Flights to Beirut have been canceled until November 30.
- Flights to Tel Aviv are suspended until October 31.
- Flights to Tehran are paused until October 14.
The airline has apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused and has also decided to avoid flying over Iranian, Iraqi, and Jordanian airspace until October 2, as well as Israeli airspace until October 31.
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FAQs
Q.1. Which airlines have canceled flights to the Middle East?
Ans. Major airlines like Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss, and Emirates have suspended flights to Israel, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern destinations due to increased regional tensions.
Q.2. How long will KLM suspend flights to Tel Aviv?
Ans. KLM has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv until the end of the year due to the ongoing conflict and instability in the region.
Q.3. What is Lufthansa’s current flight suspension status?
Ans. Lufthansa has suspended flights to Beirut until November 30, Tel Aviv until October 31, and Tehran until October 14, citing safety concerns in the Middle East.
Q.4. Why are airlines avoiding certain airspaces in the Middle East?
Ans. Airlines like Lufthansa are avoiding Iranian, Iraqi, and Jordanian airspace due to escalating tensions and potential risks from missile attacks and ongoing military operations in the region.
Q.5. Is Israeli airspace currently open for flights?
Ans. While Israeli airspace has reopened, many airlines remain cautious and continue to suspend flights to ensure the safety of passengers amid rising tensions and the risk of conflict.
