Jerusalem: With the ceasefire holding up in the north and south of Israel, several major international airlines, including Air India, have announced plans to resume flights to Israel expanding connectivity to the war-torn region.
According to the source, “It’s official now. We are resuming flights from March 2, 2025,” a representative for Air India in Israel.
Several Indians staying in Israel felt a sigh of relief as the Indian carrier’s website opened bookings on the said route.
Travelling to Israel had become challenging with most of the major international airlines cancelling their operations to the Jewish state given the war in the north against Hezbollah and in the south against Hamas in Gaza, since October 23, 2023, when the Palestinian Islamic group carried out a brutal attack on the Jewish state.
Air France announced that it will resume daily flights on the Paris-Tel Aviv route starting Saturday this week.
The carrier also plans to increase its daily flight frequency in the coming months.
Transavia France, a low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group, will also return on the Israel route January 28.
Lufthansa Group of airlines — including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings — collectively announced on Thursday that they will gradually resume flights to and from Tel Aviv beginning February 1.
British Airways will also return to Israel, resuming flights between Tel Aviv and London on April 5 with one daily flight initially.
Irish low-cost giant Ryanair has announced plans to operate a full summer schedule for Israel after suspending flights to Ben Gurion Airport since February 2024.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire November 27 which has so far been holding up despite a few hiccups on the way.
Ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel went into effect on Sunday leading to the exchange of Israeli hostages with Palestinian prisoners, bringing some calm to over fifteen months of fighting in the region.
PTI
