Delta latest major airline to stop flights to Israel amid rising regional tension

Delta Air Lines said on Tuesday that it will pause its flights between New York’s JFK Airport and Tel Aviv until the end of March, due to escalating conflict and safety concerns in Israel, Reuters has reported. The US airline said that it has issued a travel waiver for all customers who were booked on its flights to travel to and from Tel Aviv before 31 March, 2025. It had earlier suspended flights to Tel Aviv through to the end of this year.

Several airlines globally have suspended their services to Israel and Lebanon, while also revising schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace, in an attempt to ensure passenger safety as security concerns rise in the region.

Budget airline Wizz Air also announced on Tuesday that it was cancelling all of its flights to and from Israel until 15 January. Hebrew media reported that Wizz Air, the largest foreign airline operator in Israel, has contacted more than 100,000 Israelis who purchased tickets, and informed them of the cancellation of all flights. It operates about 200 flights per week to more than 20 destinations.

Poland’s LOT airline has also postponed all of its flights until 1 November, while the Greek Bluebird Airways, which is partially owned by Israelis, said that it was difficult to resume flights.

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