British Airways, which had been expected to operate a limited route to and from Israel beginning in July, said it was extending its flight cancellations until August 1. Iberia, Spain’s national airline, also announced that it was extending its suspension of flights to Ben Gurion Airport until July 27.
The announcements came days after American Airlines said it would not resume flights to Israel before January 6, 2027.
The latest cancellations contrast with moves by several other European carriers to restart operations. Last week, Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it would resume flights to and from Israel on May 28.
The company said the decision followed the latest update from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and reflected its ongoing coordination with international and local authorities, including aviation and security bodies, along with its commitment to safe operations.
Wizz Air said that because of expected high demand, it would operate routes from several European countries, including London, Budapest, Bucharest, Larnaca, Warsaw, Milan and Rome. The airline said it would continue to closely monitor developments and maintain contact with aviation safety agencies, security authorities and government bodies. It added that schedules could change according to official industry guidance.
On the same day, the Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings, said it would gradually resume flights to Israel starting June 1. The group said the decision followed a comprehensive security and safety assessment.
Under the group’s planned schedule, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo are expected to resume Tel Aviv operations on June 1. Lufthansa and Swiss plan to restart flights on July 1. Eurowings is expected to resume Tel Aviv flights in mid-July, while Brussels Airlines has suspended its flights to Ben Gurion Airport until October 24.
The announcements by Lufthansa Group and Wizz Air came one day after a significant update by EASA. The agency extended its airspace warning for the region until May 27, 2026, but for the first time since the start of the confrontation in late February, its language appeared to soften significantly, helping explain why some airlines are willing to return.
According to EASA, the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is holding, and the situation on the ground has shifted from active, intensive military confrontation to a state of high tension with only limited and localized incidents.
Despite the decrease in risk, the agency still recommends that European airlines avoid flying over Iran, Iraq and Lebanon entirely. For Israel, the recommendation was lowered to a more moderate level calling for caution and ongoing risk assessments.
Airlines that have resumed Israel service
Cyprus Airways is operating daily flights to Larnaca. Blue Bird Airways has resumed flights to Athens. Sky Express and Tus Airways have also resumed Israel service, with Tus operating flights to Larnaca.
Etihad Airways has resumed the Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv route, while flydubai has returned to Israel. Ethiopian Airlines, Red Wings, Aegean Airlines, Smartwings, Azerbaijan Airlines, Georgian Airways, Tarom, FlyOne, SkyUp and Air Seychelles have also resumed operations. Aegean has restored some flights to Israel and is expected to expand service later this month.
Airlines that have not yet returned
Air France has suspended Tel Aviv flights until May 27. KLM has not yet resumed regional operations. ITA Airways has suspended Israel flights until May 31. AirBaltic canceled Tel Aviv flights until June 28. Iberia Express canceled Israel flights until the end of May.
Norwegian postponed the return of its Tel Aviv routes until June 15. Air Canada has suspended flights until September 7. Delta Air Lines’ New York-Tel Aviv route is suspended until September. United Airlines has not yet resumed Israel operations. LOT has suspended Tel Aviv flights until May 31.
