Airlines all over the world are canceling flights to Israel. This comes on the heels of the country’s determination to close its airspace on June 13, 2025 amid increasing military tensions. Things escalated dramatically when Iran began firing drones into Israeli territory. In an apparent response, Israel responded with missile strikes on Iranian and Iranian-linked positions. Consequently, many large airlines have canceled routes, putting the travel plans of thousands in jeopardy.
El Al, Israel’s flagship airline has suspended all flights indefinitely. They are fully booked until at least the end of June. The airline’s president last week urged customers to stay away from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. Because of the wildfires, flight operations there have stopped entirely. As a result, the closure of this key crossing has rippled across much of the country’s air travel system in devastating fashion.
Alongside El Al, eight other airlines have reacted to the crisis by withdrawing their operations to Israel. Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air too, have declared the cancellation of their flights to Israel. In stark contrast, German carrier Lufthansa has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, as well as flying to Iran, Jordan and Lebanon. As of yesterday, Lufthansa has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran through July 31. Flights to Jordan and Lebanon remain suspended until at least June 20.
The recent closure of Israeli airspace has made it necessary for flights on their way to Israel to reroute. A few of these flights have even been forced to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean, returning to the New York City area. The humanitarian crisis from the ongoing military conflicts in the region is dire. This is a huge ask from airlines expected to steer the industry through these turbulent times.
Airlines are already doing a lot to chart a course through this crisis. Travel travelers need to continue to monitor flight schedules and contact their airline for additional instructions. The story is still evolving, and new developments could bring even more changes to flying regulations and how airlines operate flights.