Major airliners resume flights to Israel amid regional tensions

In Israel, following a period of suspended flights by various airlines due to increased tensions stemming from the Israel-Iran war, Lufthansa Group has announced its plans to gradually reinstate flights to Tel Aviv starting from 1 August 2025. This decision comes after flights were halted due to a missile strike near Israel's Ben Gurion airport, which raised significant safety concerns among air carriers. The missile, believed to be fired by Yemen's Houthis, resulted in visible chaos at the airport, prompting airlines like British Airways and Ryanair to suspend their operations to Israel following an assessment of the risks involved. Lufthansa's spokesperson expressed a continuous monitoring of the situation, indicating that safety remains their top priority. By mid-August, Lufthansa and its affiliated carriers such as Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo will operate a total of 44 weekly flights to the region, while Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, ITA Airways, and Eurowings are also planning to resume their services in the upcoming months. However, flights to Tehran will continue to be suspended, reflecting concerns about broader regional instability. Wizz Air has also announced plans to commence flights on 8 August. In contrast, Ryanair indicated its return to Israel would not happen until at least 25 October, showing a cautious approach from various European airlines amid ongoing safety assessments. As several airlines prepare to restart their services, there is an acknowledgment of the volatility in the situation, which had previously disrupted operations significantly and remains a point of focus for airline safety protocols.