NEW DELHI: Airlines have begun cancelling Tel Aviv flights after a missile attack near the city's Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday.
Air India's Delhi-Tel Aviv flight (AI 139) was enroute, about to enter Israeli airspace and less than an hour from its destination when the Houthi-claimed missile struck inside the perimeter of the country’s main international airport. The airline safely diverted its Boeing 787 to Abu Dhabi from where it will return to Delhi. Air India and many other airlines including Lufthansa, SWISS, British Airways and Delta have suspended their Tel Aviv flights for a couple of days as of now following the latest terrorist attack on Israel.
The latest attack on Israel will add to airlines’ overflying woes as they steer clear of Jordan and nearby airspaces — which they often use for flights between the west and the east — whenever conflict escalates in the region since the Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
An AI spokesperson said: “AI 139 from Delhi to Tel Aviv of May 4, 2025, was diverted to Abu Dhabi after an incident at Ben Gurion airport Sunday morning. The flight has landed normally in Abu Dhabi and will soon return to Delhi. Consequently, our operations to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended with immediate effect till May 6, 2025, to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. Our staff on ground is assisting customers and helping them with alternative arrangements."
The flight had taken off from Delhi at 6.11 am Sunday. After taking the longer route to west (with Pakistan airspace closed), it was about to enter Israeli airspace when Tel Aviv airport was attacked. The aircraft turned back and landed in Abu Dhabi about 8.5 hours after leaving Delhi.
“Customers booked on our flights with valid tickets between May 4 and 6, 2025, will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling or full refunds for cancellation. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority,” AI spokesperson added.
Lufthansa Group's SWISS has also suspended it's Tel Aviv flights till May 6. "Due to the current situation, SWISS will suspend its flights to and from Tel Aviv until and including May 6. Affected passengers will be notified and rebooked on other flights, subject to availability. Alternatively, we are offering them either a free rebooking to a later travel date or a full refund of the ticket price. We continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East. We are in contact with our staff in Tel Aviv; they are safe and well," SWISS said in a statement.
Air India's Delhi-Tel Aviv flight (AI 139) was enroute, about to enter Israeli airspace and less than an hour from its destination when the Houthi-claimed missile struck inside the perimeter of the country’s main international airport. The airline safely diverted its Boeing 787 to Abu Dhabi from where it will return to Delhi. Air India and many other airlines including Lufthansa, SWISS, British Airways and Delta have suspended their Tel Aviv flights for a couple of days as of now following the latest terrorist attack on Israel.
The latest attack on Israel will add to airlines’ overflying woes as they steer clear of Jordan and nearby airspaces — which they often use for flights between the west and the east — whenever conflict escalates in the region since the Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
An AI spokesperson said: “AI 139 from Delhi to Tel Aviv of May 4, 2025, was diverted to Abu Dhabi after an incident at Ben Gurion airport Sunday morning. The flight has landed normally in Abu Dhabi and will soon return to Delhi. Consequently, our operations to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended with immediate effect till May 6, 2025, to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. Our staff on ground is assisting customers and helping them with alternative arrangements."
The flight had taken off from Delhi at 6.11 am Sunday. After taking the longer route to west (with Pakistan airspace closed), it was about to enter Israeli airspace when Tel Aviv airport was attacked. The aircraft turned back and landed in Abu Dhabi about 8.5 hours after leaving Delhi.
“Customers booked on our flights with valid tickets between May 4 and 6, 2025, will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling or full refunds for cancellation. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority,” AI spokesperson added.
Lufthansa Group's SWISS has also suspended it's Tel Aviv flights till May 6. "Due to the current situation, SWISS will suspend its flights to and from Tel Aviv until and including May 6. Affected passengers will be notified and rebooked on other flights, subject to availability. Alternatively, we are offering them either a free rebooking to a later travel date or a full refund of the ticket price. We continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East. We are in contact with our staff in Tel Aviv; they are safe and well," SWISS said in a statement.
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