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For the past few years, we have seen service to/from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) stop and start due to the ongoing conflicts in the region. This has now spread outside of Israel with Qatar and the UAE closing their airspace. Carriers around the globe are suspending routes and cancelling flights. Here are the latest updates if you have any travel plans for the region.
American Airlines
American began flying between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) last October. These flights are cancelled through Monday, June 30th. The airline currently has a travel advisory in place and is allowing passengers with scheduled travel through July 6th to rebook. American’s flights between New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) did not restart and it looks like they will not in the foreseeable future. More information can be found here.
British Airways
British Airways cancelled several flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and even diverted two planes bound for the United Arab Emirates. The London-based carrier continues to fly to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), Dubai International Airport (DXB), Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH). Check with the carrier for details around your specific flight.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines has suspended its flights between New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) until September 1st. There are limited El Al flights sold as codeshares available, but these are not many and ticket prices are sky high.
El Al
Israeli carrier, El Al, is continuing to operate flights to/from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on an inconsistent and extremely pricey schedule. These are deemed “rescue” flights and there are only limited flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Emirates
Emirates has suspended flights to Baghdad International Airport (BGW), Basra International Airport (BSR), and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) through June 30th. Other routes appear to be flying. Check with Emirates around specific flights.
Etihad
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier appears to be flying its normal schedule with four US destinations: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Lufthansa
German carrier, Lufthansa, has cancelled flights to the Middle East with planned dates restarting in late June and July. Impacted routes include flights from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Munich International Airport (MUC) to/from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) (restarts on July 11th), Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) (restarts on June 30th), Erbil International Airport (EBL) (restarts on July 11th), Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) (restarts on July 31st), and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) (restarts on July 31st). The latest updates can be found here.
Qatar Airways
Qatar has cancelled flights to Baghdad International Airport (BGW), Basra International Airport (BSR), Damascus International Airport (DAM), Erbil International Airport (EBL), Mashhad International Airport (MHD), Al Najaf International Airport (NJF), Shiraz International Airport (SYZ), Sulaymaniyah International Airport (ISU), and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA). Other routes will see schedule changes, but have not been cancelled. Check with Qatar for the latest here.
SWISS
SWISS has suspended flights from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to/from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) (restarts on July 31st) and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) (restarts on October 25th). More information can be found here.
United Airlines
United has pulled ticket sales from both its routes out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) are not scheduled to fly until July 3rd and August 1st, respectively. These dates can easily change. Stay up to date here.
Anthony’s Take: Travel to the Middle East is going to be challenging for at least the next few months. Put off travel if possible and check with your operating carrier for the latest details.
(Featured Image Credit: Rawpixel via iStock.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
