Tensions between Israel and Iran are escalating, as Israel carried out a “preemptive” strike on Iran, and we’re now expecting some sort of a major response. I’ve covered how some flights bound for Israel diverted as a result of this. We’re now seeing airspace and airport closures, and we’re even seeing EL AL suspend operations, which we almost never see…
In this post:
EL AL moves entire fleet out of Israel
Israeli national airline EL AL has been operating flights to and from Israel pretty consistently since the conflict started on October 7, 2023. While most foreign airlines have suspended operations to the country repeatedly, EL AL has continued to operate these flights (while making record profits), thanks to its special security equipment on aircraft, and other enhanced safety protocols.
However, EL AL has now flown its entire fleet out of Israel, clearly reflecting that some sort of major attack on Israel is a serious possibility.
EL AL flights that were inbound to Israel have diverted, primarily returning to their origins. For example, below is the route for yesterday’s EL AL flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv, which returned to its origin after roughly seven hours.
Meanwhile those flights that were scheduled to depart from Tel Aviv were largely flown with whatever spare aircraft were remaining, in some cases leading to significant upgrades. For example, today’s EL AL flight from Tel Aviv to Bucharest (OTP) was operated by a Boeing 787-9, rather than the typical Boeing 737-800.
EL AL suspends flights indefinitely
Israel has now closed its airspace for takeoffs and landings, and with that, EL AL has also suspended its operations altogether. The airline has canceled flights, and is telling customers booked on flights through Sunday, June 15, 2025, to simply not come to the airport.
EL AL is giving passengers the option of a refund. The airline is recommending that passengers abroad arrange hotel accommodations, though isn’t offering to help (presumably unless a flight involves a country where the government has a duty of care clause for airline passengers, like in select European countries).
Meanwhile the airline has closed all reservations for travel through Monday, June 30, 2025. That’s not necessarily because the airline doesn’t anticipate operating until then, but rather, so that those on canceled flights will have the opportunity to be rebooked.
It’s not often that you see Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport without any commercial aircraft…
Bottom line
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport has suspended operations. Along with that, EL AL has flown all of its aircraft out of Israel. The airline has canceled flights through at least June 15, but has stopped accepting reservations through June 30.
This is the most significant EL AL suspension that we’ve seen in quite some time. I hope for increased peace in the region, because the current trajectory of this conflict isn’t looking great…
With the inevitable demise of the barbarous Iranian regime, one is looking forward to stability and an opportunity to experience the Persian culture first hand.
Unfortunately, I am expecting a very prolonged closure of several years. As I did when Russia invaded Ukraine and everyone disagreed ... I hope I am not nor right at least this time.
Service will resume sometime in 2027. Israel planned this attack for years with precision . Iran was moments away from having nuclear weapons capability. In 1982 Israel bombed nuclear reactors in Iraq. Don’t mess with Israel.
As per Israel, Iran has been “moments away from having nuclear weapons capability” since the 1980s.
…. and your point is Aaron?
United just announced last week they were going to resume service to Tel Aviv. And now this. Airlines just need to pull out of there and let the National airline handle everything. Can you imagine trying to run a business and every few weeks ending all of your contracts for fuel, food, hotel, gate staff, etc and then cancel and start up again. Then cancel and start up again. What a horrendous business model.
As...
United just announced last week they were going to resume service to Tel Aviv. And now this. Airlines just need to pull out of there and let the National airline handle everything. Can you imagine trying to run a business and every few weeks ending all of your contracts for fuel, food, hotel, gate staff, etc and then cancel and start up again. Then cancel and start up again. What a horrendous business model.
As long as Israel remains the bully in the neighbourhood, this chaos is going to remain. And they are going to continue claiming they are the victim.
Israel doesn't call brutal military leaders "martyrs" when they're killed. And the more Iranians they kill, the better off the world is.
You sound completely insane.
No, they call their brutal military leaders heroes.
Also why so racist?
I remember 1979. I'm a Gulf War veteran. I have no time for Muslims.
Well, maybe stop invading and bombing their countries, propping up dictators there when it’s comvenient, staging coups, and exploiting their natural resources, and thing would be better.
Aaron, when you stop your Muslim mates from perpetrating barbaric terrorist acts against non-Muslims, non-Muslims will have no need to defend themselves or putting the barbarous terrorists back in their box!
Your ignorance is your bliss Aaron and our mirth.
The majority of everyday Iranian citizens would be happy to see the back of the Ayatollahs, and a surprising number of them harbor little or no animosity towards either Israel, the United States, or the West in general. You'd probably find that a significant proportion of Iranians are glad that Mohammed Bagheri is dead, for instance, because he was a monster who ordered troops to open fire on unarmed civilians who were involved in peaceful...
The majority of everyday Iranian citizens would be happy to see the back of the Ayatollahs, and a surprising number of them harbor little or no animosity towards either Israel, the United States, or the West in general. You'd probably find that a significant proportion of Iranians are glad that Mohammed Bagheri is dead, for instance, because he was a monster who ordered troops to open fire on unarmed civilians who were involved in peaceful protests. There is little popular love lost on the verminous Iranian leadership regime.
KYS, ORD.
No, I won't. Why don't you try, brave man? You'll find out that liberal gay Democrats can carry guns too.
Granted, maybe not the best business model but " follow the $$$ " .. In the true spirit of capitalism, if ya can make a cent in profit, well, sorry, if ya happen to throw your mama under the bus !! .... The 'collateral' damage is merely a 'cost of doing business' .... lol
Again?
The sons of Isaac and the sons of Ishmael can never make peace, just because Ishmael got the short end of the stick.
And they've been bitching about it ever since.
Any word if UA, DL and other airline crew that were laying over in TLV were able to get out on one of those El Al flights? Obviously the UA and DL inbound flights turned back leaving crew stranded.
I saw some DL crew posting images on Instagram from Larnaka a few hours ago.
I would guess that all crewmembers on, or scheduled to be on, layover were deadheaded on the last plane out of TLV of the carrier for which they work. Yes, "legal rest" would be "compromised" but there must be some "force majeure" provision in the labor contracts that would apply. It would mean that the crews working that last inbound aircraft essentially got no layover and deadheaded back on the same airplane they just worked to TLV.
I would respectfully disagree, although I have no specific knowledge of DL/UA specific crew skeds. But I assumed those 2 DL/UA inbound TLV 'flights to nowhere' were the existing TLV layover crews' 'last boat outta town' ... Tough luck. !! Enjoy that 'extended' TLV layover !
But, hopefully, what was previously mentioned as a crew posting from LCA is encouraging that the crews evacuated on offline carrier(s)...
Is this the first time since 1982 that El Al has suspended all operations due to conflict (so excluding 2020)?
Looks like Donald's plan to buy Palestine calmed things down.
I even think he's taking 'advance reservations' for the Trump Gaza Resort ! He'll be flying there for the grand opening gala aboard the newly 'comissioned' Qatari 747-8 " Luxury Flying Royal Palace" !
Just as I was planning a trip to the Holy Land. When will it ever be safe to travel to the region?
Regis, it has been there for millennia and will be accessible again fairly soon for you to enjoy.
IDF is progressing well, so I expect it should be safe within a year or two.
.... and the conflict, killing & suffering on all sides will continue until the ultimate demise of this planet .... sadly...,
Maybe when we're all re-incarnated as peace loving doves ( if you're so inclined ! ) ....
Looks like all Israeli carriers have ferried their planes to Larnaca Airport in Cyprus.
and some of the LY widebodies and presumably crews are in the US and Europe
Question, do we have any precedent like this recently, within the past 20-30 years, of El Al sending all their aircraft out of the country? If so, when was the last time this happened and what led up to it?
Bombing a neighbour might have something to do with it. Be hilarious if every other nation refused to allow El Al flights permission to land and they had to head back to Tehran.
Edit: Tel Aviv
@UncleRonnie
I'm well aware that tensions are high with Iran due to Israel striking Iranian nuclear facilities. But I know this isn't the first time Israel has openly struck Iran with IDF assets (IE, no plausible deniability like they would have through Mossad actions). Did El Al evacuate the last time Israel did this, or any other time in the last 20-30 years when tensions were high? If not, I hope we're not about to see the situation escalate out of control.
@Dusty - I can’t remember El Al hiding their jets before either, but today’s drones make them expensive and tasty targets.
Ah..... and I thought you were implying some sort of irony or "poetic justice" !!
... right into the belly of the beast !
...lol...
Frankly absurd
This is 2025
Not about whom you voted
Common people have more common sense than their leaders
@Ben Israel also has legislation (ASL) that mirrors EC261 they have to provide or refund accommodation meals and transport
EC 261 does not apply in times of war or other extraordinary circumstances that are beyond the airline's control.
It does in terms of providing care and assistance which is exactly what I mentioned. You didn’t read. EC261 isn’t just about compensation. As per article 9. The ASL of Israel mandates the same. If you’re stranded 2 weeks plus they still have to remunerate all costs associated with accommodation meals and transport to /from the hotel. It doesn’t mean you can stay at a suite in the most expensive hotel.
So they take a plane load of money and suspends operation.
Are Nigerians also Israeli?
When checking out Flightradar 24, one is not surprised at seeing no aircraft activity over Israel, through Jordan, Syria, Iraq or Iran.
However, aircraft are still heading to Beirut.
So if you’re on Israel you’re stranded now
Conversely, if you are in Iran …. head for the hills or open desert.
Stay away from military bases, airfields, oil fields, ports, electric generation plants and nuclear installations.
And if you are in America, prepare to open your wallet more so that we can keep funding this nonsense, and Israel can keep sucking our teet dry,
What a world.
@Alan what are you talking about? Israel manufactures most of its own weapons, and pays for the rest. This is not Ukraine we're taking about here.
Lol Pete
Without US taxpayers money, Israel would not exist.
"In 1999, the U.S. government signed a commitment to provide Israel with at least US$2.7 billion in military aid annually for ten years; in 2009 it was raised to $3 billion; and in 2019 raised to a minimum of US$3.8 billion."
@Ann
Unless you're including the 1960s-70s, Israel would probably be fine without US military aid. The military aid we give has made up around 10% of their yearly defense budget. Not nothing, but not vital either considering that their post-2000 enemies list no longer includes Egypt and Jordan, and while Iran can make a lot of trouble through Hezbollah and Hamas an overt invasion of Israel isn't really possible geographically speaking. Which just leaves...
@Ann
Unless you're including the 1960s-70s, Israel would probably be fine without US military aid. The military aid we give has made up around 10% of their yearly defense budget. Not nothing, but not vital either considering that their post-2000 enemies list no longer includes Egypt and Jordan, and while Iran can make a lot of trouble through Hezbollah and Hamas an overt invasion of Israel isn't really possible geographically speaking. Which just leaves slinging missiles and an air war, in which case Israel has a huge advantage over Iran.
@ Pete
In my fantasies of a perfect world, I'd like to see at some of the "welfare" we tax payers give to Israel be diverted to rebuilding Gaza & to defending Ukraine along with those frozen Russian assets..,,
And yet I think there were civilian casualties in residences of some of the targets....
Maybe 'the hills or open desert' might be the only options....
I think you should be able to use the land crossing to Jordan or Egypt (Taba). Depending on nationality you might need a visa.
Fill up your vehicles with fuel and be prepared to take sides …. Western freedoms or Islamic repression?
This is fundamentally it. You know one is horrible and bad but its infinitely better than the other.
The day that Muslims start understanding that not all Muslims are not ummah is the day we'll start to make progress. Not every political action is an attack against Islam, but Islam has been bound with politics from day one, and Muslims can't separate the two.
You mean an ethnostate participating in genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid (Western values?) or Islamic repression.
As a matter of fact …. there are more cases of your so called genocide, apartheid and repression in Islamic countries than the rest of the world put together. However, Palestinian Hamas and Iranian terrorist supporters conveniently forget that fact.
Nah, not even close. You really shouod see your doctor about this bad case of Whataboutism you have.
Also this whole notion of equating support for Palestinians and/or criticism for Israel with being a supporter of Hamas and the Iranian government is just a sign of utter stupidity.
@AeroB13a
Western freedoms? It is Western hypocrisy and terrorism. The real terrorists on earth are the Western countries arming Israel which is itself a rogue state. Israel is an illegal European country in the Middle East.