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TEL AVIV — El Al (LY) has resumed a limited schedule as Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) reopens following several days of disruption caused by the Gulf and Middle East airspace crisis.
Israeli authorities describe the restart as an “extremely limited” reopening of TLV and national airspace. Capacity will expand gradually, subject to security conditions and regulatory approval.
Details of limited operations
El Al’s initial flying is focused on recovery and repatriation, bringing stranded passengers back to Israel and rebuilding connectivity route by route as conditions allow.
Reuters reported that El Al paused ticket sales until March 21 to prioritize reaccommodating customers affected by cancellations. Other Israeli carriers have also reduced sales and prepared rescue services.
Travelers booked on El Al should check directly with the airline for updated departure times and schedule changes, as adjustments may occur frequently during the restart.
A very cautious restart
Tel Aviv's limited reopening follows the United Arab Emirates opening what it calls “safe air corridors,” according to Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, in coordination with neighboring Gulf countries.
The move allows UAE carriers Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), and flydubai (FZ) to operate higher capacity schedules amid the ongoing conflict in the region. However, details surrounding the plan aren’t exactly clear.
Previous Update
EL AL Spokesperson on the cancellation of its flights through Tuesday at 2:00 AM, following the continued closure of the airspace:
In accordance with the instructions of the security and aviation authorities and due to the continued closure of Israel’s airspace, all EL AL and Sundor flights scheduled through tomorrow (Monday), March 2, including flights planned to depart by 2:00 AM between March 2 and 3, have been canceled. A notification has been sent to the affected customers.
EL AL flights are currently closed for sale through March 21. This measure is intended to ensure that once the airspace reopens, priority will be given to the flight assignments of EL AL customers whose flights were canceled, and to facilitate their return to Israel as soon as possible as part of the recovery flights.
Customers will receive proactive updates from EL AL regarding their placement on the recovery flights. According to the current assessment, there is no need at this stage to reroute passengers to alternative destinations worldwide.
EL AL continues to operate in coordination with the security and aviation authorities. Real‑time updates are continuously published on the EL AL website and across the company’s social media accounts.
Featured image: Daniel Gorun/Airways
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