Flight Cancellations Surges in Numbers of Ryanair, Wizz Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Air India, Heading and Arriving from Abu Dhabi, Rome, New Delhi, Vienna, Warsaw, London Luton, Madrid, Berlin, and Over 60+ Flights at Ben Gurion Airport

Published on May 12, 2025

The sudden cancellation of flights to Israel by multiple major airlines from early May 2024 onwards severely impacted the global travel sector. Travelers worldwide faced significant disruption, with travel agencies, airlines, and insurance providers grappling with the immediate aftermath of widespread cancellations. This suspension of air services had profound implications, particularly in terms of consumer confidence, ticket sales, and the logistical management of international travel routes. Flights scheduled from Ben Gurion Airport to major international cities including Larnaca, Sofia, Bucharest, Varna, Addis Ababa, Abu Dhabi, Budapest, Rome, Poznan, New Delhi, Vienna, Warsaw, Paphos, Bologna, Brussels, London Luton, Madrid, Berlin, Naples, Krakow, Athens, and Tbilisi have either been canceled or remain uncertain, causing widespread disruption for thousands of travelers. The cancellations, primarily affecting prominent airlines such as Wizzair, Ryanair, El Al Israel Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air India, LOT Polish Airlines, Iberia Express, and Georgian Airways, have left passengers scrambling to rearrange their travel plans amid heightened security concerns and operational challenges.

Airlines and travel operators predicted extensive operational challenges as thousands of travelers became stranded mid-journey. Travel agencies globally reported increased customer inquiries, rebooking requests, and refund claims, significantly straining customer service operations. Furthermore, tourism-dependent businesses anticipated revenue losses, especially those located near Tel Aviv, a significant hub for international travel.

Arrivals

Broader Effects on Global Traveler Confidence and Decision-Making

Globally, travelers were notably impacted by the cancellations, particularly those traveling from key international hubs in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Passengers who had booked flights weeks or months in advance found themselves uncertain about their travel plans, prompting many to reconsider travel insurance policies or to shift their vacation and business travel plans entirely.

Travel experts suggested that passenger anxiety might have longer-term implications, leading travelers to prefer destinations perceived as safer and less volatile. Such shifts would potentially reduce travel to Israel in the short term, adversely affecting Israel’s tourism industry, which had already faced prolonged disruptions since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.

Departures

Here’s the flight departure information for Ben Gurion Airport in a copy-pastable table format:

Immediate Passenger Assistance and Insurance Recommendations

Travel advisors emphasized the importance of passengers proactively monitoring updates from airlines about cancellations and resumption dates. For instance, Lufthansa Group proactively provided passengers with free rebooking or cancellation options. Such measures helped ease immediate pressures, though confusion and inconvenience remained significant among stranded passengers.

Passengers traveling with Israeli airlines were also advised to verify the aircraft’s operator, especially as some flights were conducted via leased foreign aircraft, potentially affecting eligibility for refunds or compensation. Travel industry professionals strongly recommended purchasing ticket insurance from Israeli carriers, as these policies provided refunds if flights were canceled due to security incidents or similar emergencies.

Travelers who were already stranded due to cancellations were encouraged to verify whether their existing travel insurance had been automatically extended by their providers, as some insurers proactively extended coverage amid the crisis. Nonetheless, it was stressed that travelers needed confirmation from insurance providers to ensure clarity on their coverage.

Specific Airlines’ Flight Suspensions and Cancellations to Israel

Airlines Implementing Immediate Emergency Adjustments and Assistance

Several airlines swiftly implemented contingency measures after suspending flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. For example, Air Seychelles rerouted its flights on May 7, 2024, to Larnaca, Cyprus. Passengers arriving there were assisted by Arkia Airlines, facilitating onward connections to Tel Aviv. Travelers received boarding passes upon arrival in Cyprus, and luggage was transferred directly to their final destination. Passengers were offered either a free date change or a full refund option, underscoring airlines’ efforts to minimize passenger inconvenience.

Similarly, AirBaltic not only canceled its flights scheduled from May 7 through May 11 but also suspended ticket sales entirely through May 18. HiSky had to cancel its scheduled flights from Tel Aviv to Chisinau on Tuesday evening and Wednesday, further complicating travel plans for affected passengers.

Detailed Suspension Dates and Airline-specific Responses

Travel And Tour World reported detailed flight suspension timelines as of Wednesday morning, clearly illustrating the magnitude of cancellations affecting international passengers:

• United Airlines: Flights suspended through May 9, 2024, with Reuters noting potential disruptions continuing until May 11.
• Delta Air Lines: Flights canceled through May 20, inclusive, with Reuters suggesting possible disruptions extending until May 25.
• Lufthansa Group: Including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, suspended services through May 11.
• Air France: Flights canceled through May 13, inclusive.
• British Airways: Flights suspended through May 15, inclusive.
• Ryanair: Operations halted until May 11, inclusive.
• Wizz Air: Flights suspended through the morning of May 8.
• Air Europa: Flights canceled through May 7, inclusive.
• ITA Airways (Italy): Flights suspended through May 11, plus two additional canceled flights on May 12.
• Air India: Flights suspended through May 8, inclusive.
• Iberia: Flights canceled through Tuesday, inclusive.
• LOT Polish Airlines: Flights canceled through May 8, inclusive.
• Transavia: Flights halted through May 13, inclusive.
• Aegean Airlines: Flights suspended through May 13, inclusive.
• Ethiopian Airlines: Flights canceled through May 7, inclusive.

These detailed timelines provided essential clarity for affected passengers planning alternative travel arrangements and helped travel agencies manage client expectations more effectively.

Legal Considerations for Travelers Regarding Flight Cancellations

Passenger Rights and Compensation Amid Wartime Emergencies

According to aviation and tourism attorney Ehud Fai, passengers impacted by cancellations related to wartime security emergencies—such as the May 4 missile incident near Ben Gurion Airport—might not qualify for financial compensation traditionally available under standard conditions. Airlines could legally argue that cancellations were necessary due to safety concerns amid the ongoing security crisis.

Despite these limitations, Fai clarified travelers retained certain fundamental rights. Airlines remained legally obligated to provide passengers either alternative flights or full refunds, depending on the traveler’s preference. Additionally, airlines had to offer stranded passengers essential assistance, including meals and hotel accommodations, until the rescheduled flights departed. Such provisions aimed to alleviate immediate hardship for affected travelers, despite the lack of direct financial compensation.

Immediate Effects of Missile Incident Near Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, 2024

Impact of Missile Attack Leading to Renewed Flight Suspensions

A missile attack carried out by the Houthis from Yemen on May 4, 2024, had a profound impact, forcing multiple airlines to reconsider their operational safety and suspend flights. Although the missile narrowly missed the main check-in area at Ben Gurion International Airport, its proximity triggered a widespread response among global carriers, resulting in a swift halt of air operations to Israel.

This incident significantly escalated fears and renewed caution among international airlines. Following months of cautiously resumed flights since the outbreak of the Hamas-initiated Gaza War in October 2023, the missile strike reignited security fears, prompting airlines to prioritize passenger safety above operational continuity.

Immediate Passenger Disruption and Israeli Carriers’ Response

This sudden suspension left many passengers stranded en route to Tel Aviv, causing immediate logistical and financial distress. Others had to rapidly rearrange travel plans to return home. Israeli carriers responded promptly by launching emergency initiatives designed to aid these travelers. Such efforts were essential in mitigating immediate difficulties, though the disruption was substantial and widespread.

Travel industry experts acknowledged that despite these emergency responses, the magnitude of cancellations was unprecedented, likely leading to lingering effects on international passenger confidence and future bookings.

Background: Escalation and Initial Airline Cancellations since October 7, 2023

Since the Gaza War initiated by Hamas began on October 7, 2023, airlines had consistently exercised extreme caution regarding flights into Israel. While many carriers had gradually lifted earlier flight suspensions, the missile attack near Ben Gurion International Airport on May 4, 2024, immediately reignited safety concerns and forced airlines into another wave of flight suspensions.

Industry experts noted that these cancellations were not merely short-term disruptions but represented deeper anxieties within the global aviation industry regarding safety in conflict-affected regions. The repeated disruptions since late 2023 had significantly impacted international travel patterns, with travelers increasingly wary of booking flights to areas experiencing ongoing geopolitical instability.