Iran-Israel Tensions Ground Flights, Stranding Thousands

Tensions between Iran and Israel have led to widespread flight cancellations and paused operations, leaving tens of thousands of travelers stranded in the region. The conflict has caused major disruptions in air travel, particularly in Israel and Dubai, as airlines prioritize safety and navigate the fragile ceasefire.

Qatar closed its airspace on Monday following an Iranian attack, and the uncertain ceasefire has left many travelers unable to leave Israel. This crisis comes after a challenging year for the airline industry, marked by safety incidents and economic uncertainty. The recent influx of delayed and canceled flights adds to the economic burden on companies already facing slowing demand.

Aviation industry expert John Mowry of Alton Aviation explains that pausing service to conflict zones is a strategic move to manage and assess risk, minimizing danger to passengers. This approach is part of the industry's commitment to passenger safety and experience during crises.

Several major airlines have canceled flights to and from the region. European airlines, including Air France, KLM, Air Europa, British Airways, ITA Airways, and airBaltic, have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least the end of June, with some extending cancellations into August and September. Air France also halted flights to and from Riyadh and Dubai.

German airline Lufthansa has suspended service in several countries, canceling flights to and from Beirut until June 30, Tel Aviv and Tehran until July 31, and Amman and Erbil, Iraq until July 11. Lufthansa has also avoided flying through the airspace of the involved countries.

American airlines United and Delta have paused operations in key regional hubs. United has halted flights to and from Tel Aviv through July 31 and its daily flight between Newark and Dubai. Delta has paused its flights to and from Tel Aviv until the end of August.

Israeli airline El Al has announced plans to assist with evacuations due to widespread cancellations. The company plans to expand flights to return travelers home by lifting flight restrictions and reopening two of the country’s main airports. Other Israeli airlines are also offering rescue flights.

The U.S. Department of State has begun assisting evacuations of citizens from Israel. On June 21, two flights carrying U.S. citizens departed Tel Aviv for Athens. The State Department has provided support and information to over 27,000 people, with a few thousand individuals registering interest in departure assistance.

Meanwhile, the state of Florida has taken independent action to bring Americans home from Israel. On Tuesday, a flight from Israel with more than 150 citizens landed at Tampa International Airport. At least five such rescue flights have landed at the Florida airstrip with more than 2,000 Americans onboard. The evacuation efforts are said to be costing approximately $30 million, with at least 5,000 Americans indicating their wish to return to the U.S.