Airlines react as Israel-Iran tensions escalate

LONDON/ANKARA

With tensions running high between Israel and Iran, international airlines have been adjusting their flight plans as a precaution.

Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air canceled its flights to Tel Aviv on April 14 and 15 following Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday.

In a statement to Anadolu, Wizz Air confirmed that their flights had resumed as of April 16 but warned passengers of possible schedule changes. They emphasized their commitment to closely monitoring the situation and prioritizing the safety of passengers and crew while hoping for a swift return to normalcy in the region.

British airline easyJet also suspended its flights to Tel Aviv, including for the summer travel season, until Oct. 27, citing the "ongoing situation" in Israel.

Dutch airline KLM canceled flights to Israel until April 21 and announced that it was not flying over Iran and Israel.

German airline Lufthansa has resumed its regular flights to Tel Aviv, Amman and Erbil after briefly suspending them. The company announced that it would cancel flights to Tehran and Beirut until April 18 and would not use Iranian airspace.

Air India decided to temporarily suspend its flights to Tel Aviv.

US-based United Airlines suspended its flights to Tel Aviv and announced that travelers who had booked tickets there through May 1 could receive full refunds.

After canceling its flights to Tel Aviv on Saturday, Air Canada announced that it would continue to monitor the situation in the region and adjust its flight schedules accordingly.

Change of route

Australian airline Qantas announced that it changed its routes to avoid Iranian airspace, while Britain’s Virgin Atlantic said it will not fly over Iraq, Iran and Israel and will continue to monitor the situation for possible impacts on its operations.

Spain’s Iberia Express canceled its flights to Tel Aviv on April 14 and 15.

The Philippines advised its citizens to postpone non-essential travel to Israel.

According to the Philippines News Agency (PNA), the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines issued a travel advisory on Israel.

It said the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv recommended the indefinite postponement of all non-essential travel from the Philippines to Israel or until the situation stabilizes.

Philippine citizens were advised to take "all precautions" if travel to Israel is necessary, and it was noted that Filipinos in the region should remain vigilant.

The advisory called on Filipinos to coordinate with embassies and consulates as part of "emergency planning."

Iran-Israel tensions

Iran on Saturday launched an airborne attack on Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital. It reportedly fired more than 300 drones and missiles, with almost all intercepted by the air defense systems of Israel and its allies – the US, France and the UK.

Iran claimed that some targets were hit.

Israel, in turn, said it would respond to Iran's attack.

Israeli media reported that the government had decided to respond "openly and effectively.”