DALLAS — On September 28, 2024, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued tandem Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIB) recommending airlines suspend operations in Israel and Lebanon's airspace.

The recommendation comes in the wake of an intensifying kinetic warfare between Hezbollah and Israel, which has been exacerbated since the death of a Hezbollah leader.

While Israel's Civil Aviation Authority has minimized the hazards with tactical measures, EASA stresses that the threat remains high. However, the situation in Lebanon is more dangerous, with EASA claiming a lack of adequate airspace safety management, making aviation operations riskier over the Levant region of West Asia.

EASA stresses the severe hazards to civil aviation posed by Lebanon's missile, rocket, and drone activity, as well as Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire. Hezbollah's deployment of cruise and ballistic missiles raises the risk of misidentification and inadvertent targeting of civilian aircraft.

Many European airlines, notably Air France (AF), British Airways (BA), and Lufthansa (LH) have halted service to Tel Aviv and Beirut. US airlines have also suspended flights in the region.

One carrier worth noting is EL AL Israeli Airlines (LY), which became the first airline to install an anti-missile system on a commercial aircraft. The technology was first developed for the Israeli Air Force's Flight Guard, a sophisticated radar system that detects incoming missiles and ejects flares to confuse and deflect the missiles.

The Israeli airline's anti-missile defense system has since been updated repeatedly. You can find out more about LY's anti-missile system here.

The departure of several foreign airlines has helped LY, which boosted its costs, infuriating citizens and prompting a probe by competition regulators. LY is the only airline operating the New York-Tel Aviv route—80% of the world's Jews reside in Israel or the US.

Guidance for Flights Near Conflict Zones

Last year, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) released updated guidance aimed at assisting aviation regulators and operators in effectively managing airspace during times of conflict. This includes making decisions regarding the permissibility of flights over or near conflict zones.

The initial issuance of this guidance took place in 2017 following ICAO's efforts in response to the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. Subsequently, the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in 2020 prompted the ICAO Assembly in 2022 to prioritize the review of the existing manual.

The Third Edition of the Risk Assessment Manual for Civil Aircraft Operations Over or Near Conflict Zones was expanded to include comprehensive advice for states and operators regarding the risks associated with surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), ballistic missiles, surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs), and air-to-air missiles (AAMs). Additionally, it offers guidance on conducting conflict zone airspace closures and reassessing airspace after conflicts have ceased.

Today's EASA recommendation emphasizes the increased risks to aviation in conflict zones and urges operators to use utmost caution. As such, EASA states that the CZIBs, valid until October 31, 2024, may be updated or lifted early depending on ongoing assessments.

We invite you to read Simone Chellini's initial deep dive into the impact of the military escalation in the Middle East on civil aviation operations to and from Israel.