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Israel Struggles With Uncertainty As EasyJet Extends Suspension Of Tel Aviv Flights, Affecting Travel Demand And Regional Stability
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Israel’s travel industry is in disarray as easyJet keeps its flight suspension going through Spring 2026. It offers limited options to travelers in Europe, cancelling plans and requiring travelers to look elsewhere. As easyJet keeps delaying, it keeps the airline industry in suspension, redistributing how travelers will arrive at and depart from Israel in coming months. It is a sign of the industry’s greater woes in an age of shifting regional politics as well as increased need for travel.
Budget British airline easyJet this week again extended its suspended flights to Israel, pushing back its return to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport until March 29, 2026. That postponement, longer than any other non-US airline’s suspension to the destination, is indicative of the cautious approach some carriers are taking in light of fluctuating regional conditions and shifting passenger demand.
First due in June of 2025, easyJet’s return had been postponed several times, most recently until late October. Continuous uncertainty in the region along with reassessed airspace safety reviews, however, have prompted the London Luton-based airline to suspend operations throughout the winter holidays into early spring.
Strategic Realignment During Travel Doubt
easyJet’s action is representative of broader shifts in the global airline industry, long mindful of traveler security, shifts in regulations, as well as domestic capacity demands. Even with removal of all flight restrictions on Israel in the past week by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), easyJet is opting for longer cushion time before resumption of flying. It is the longest sustained Tel Aviv flight suspension among any large EU airline since local tensions have started.
Despite this long break, easyJet is giving stranded travelers a full refund or a date change on other flights at no additional expense. With no airline presence left, some of this airline’s busiest routes of this sort such as Tel Aviv-London (Luton), Amsterdam, Berlin, Basel, Geneva, and Milan have no choice but to be served only with Israel’s national as well as domestic carriers: El Al, Arkia, and Israir.
Varied Airline Strategies in Tel Aviv Resumptions
With easyJet continuing its suspension, others in Europe have tentatively resumed flights in Israeli airspace. Air Europa of Spain, Greece’s Aegean Airlines, as well as LOT Polish Airlines, resumed flights to Tel Aviv on Monday. Air France led the way back in Europe last week, rebuilding a crucial route with Paris. Lufthansa of Germany will resume flights next month.
British Airways, like easyJet, is being more prudent, rescheduling its flights to Tel Aviv until late October.
Notably, Fly Dubai, based in UAE, was the first foreign airline to resume operations since the most recent war. It currently offers 10 daily flights to Tel Aviv, highest frequency of any foreign airline operating in Israel currently.
Israel’s Tourism Comeback Keeps Gathering Momentum In spite of issues, there is greater proof of revival at Ben Gurion International Airport. It handled some 60,000 passengers in 370 global flights on Monday alone, equalling pre-conflict levels of traffic. These relative measures of air traffic volume normalcy reflect vibrant traveler interest in entering into or transversing into the Israeli market.
United Airlines is due to restore its prized Newark–Tel Aviv route next week in a move likely to stabilize transatlantic airline fares as well as deliver increased flexibility in peak summer travel. By way of contrast, Delta Air Lines is due back in September, with American Airlines still yet to restore any flights aimed at Tel Aviv.
Greece to Become Significant Centre for Israeli Travellers
With some carriers still hesitant to revive operations and prices on direct U.S.–Israel flights still being high, Greece has been an important center of outbound as well as inbound Israeli travel. Its geographical position, flight frequency, as well as being a desirable leisure destination, have conspired in making it a preferred center of transit among people moving between Israel and North America.
Greek airports like Athens and Thessaloniki have developed as stopover alternates since they offer travelers a chance of bypassing restricted direct routes while enjoying tourism amenities along the way.
Travel Outlook for 2025–2026 Going forward, easyJet’s absence in Israeli airspace until Spring 2026 will impact price-conscious travelers as well as tourism flows between Western Europe and Tel Aviv. However, slow return of legacy carriers as well as national carriers—is a sign of a steadily improving travel environment for Israel. For travelers who will be visiting or transiting through Israel, it will be essential to monitor airline advisories as well as book flexible fares. As carriers adjust plans throughout the year, more route reopenings will probably be issued, especially as passenger traffic continues to build as summer 2026 planning begins.
