Bad Consequences
This growing normality has been especially acute with the advent of the strife between Israel and Hamas which has rendered the air travel situation in Israel miserable. Since the Hamas’ hostile invasion of October 2023 that saw thousands perish, the consequences extended to many including international air travel. Over the past few months, several airlines, such as Lufthansa, British Airways, and Air France, have canceled flights which have caused major disruptions and very high tariff prices making it hard for travelers as well as local businesses.
The Israel-Hamas war
In October 2023, exactly one year ago, Hamas attacked Israel (according to the Counterterrorism Guide “Hamas is a military and political organization currently in power in the Gaza Strip”). More than 3,000 Israelis were injured and over 1,300 Israelis died as a result of this attack. The main reasons for this assault were: the escalating tensions in Jerusalem, historical, and political differences between the two territories, and the blockade of Gaza (Hamas has criticized Israel’s blockade, which has caused serious problems for people in Gaza since 2007).
Travel Issues
Israeli businesses are facing a shortage of supply due to international airlines canceling flights due to the growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Due to the ongoing cancellations by foreign airlines, Israeli businesses are faced with a shortage of supply and an exploding demand. For the next three weeks, flights will remain canceled by the Lufthansa Group, British Airways, AZAL, and WizzAir.
In addition, the cancellation of Air France’s flights to Israel was also announced. Due to apprehension over Hezbollah’s possible reaction to the beeper blast incident, Air France declared on Tuesday (24th of September), that it would be canceling its flights to Israel the following day. Swiss and Lufthansa also made cancellation announcements at the same time.
According to the Jerusalem Post Air France ceased operations in Israel at the end of July, citing security concerns; the business only recently resumed operations in Israel. This coincides with the termination of Air France. While some foreign airlines have not yet returned to fly here, it is expected that others will soon follow the two in announcing the cancellation of flights to Israel.
The restart of flights was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, but Virgin Atlantic decided to push it back by an additional three days. Conversely, Delta Airlines has decided to postpone its return until at least the end of 2024.
Elevated Prices
Holiday costs at El Al are at an all-time high. During Sukkot (October 22–29), a round-trip ticket to New York can run you anything from $7,000 to $9,000. There are still economy class tickets available for Bangkok, but there are only business class seats remaining for the return trip, costing approximately $3,700.
Not even flights to Europe are exempt. A round-trip ticket to London may cost more than $1,700, whilst a ticket to Paris may cost more than $900 (24th of September).
What Does the Future Hold?
The Air travel system in Israel showcases some of the sad realities that stem from undying geopolitical wars. In that regard, it becomes imperative that beyond rhetoric, stakeholders begin to tackle these problems through interaction and collaboration with the goal of bringing about order and normalcy in air travel to assist the region in weathering these storms.
