Wizz Air and other airlines cancel flights to Israel amid escalating conflict with Hezbollah
Airstrikes between Israel and Lebanon intensified on Tuesday, leading several airlines (Hungarian-owned Wizz Air, among others) to suspend flights to Israel.
In response to recent rocket attacks launched from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes targeting the group’s positions and rocket launchers. These rockets had been aimed at Afula and other towns in the Jezreel Valley, according to an IDF spokesperson. Several Hezbollah sites were hit, resulting in secondary explosions, suggesting that weapons were stored in the targeted buildings.
Several airlines suspend flights to the Middle East
As tensions escalated between Israel and Hezbollah, more airlines announced the suspension of flights, Világgazdaság reports. Wizz Air, which operates from Hungary, temporarily cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv and Amman, which were scheduled for Tuesday. British Airways also suspended flights for 48 hours, while Azerbaijan Airlines scrapped its planned flights for the day.
Wizz Air stated it is in contact with affected passengers and continues to closely monitor the situation. On Monday, Lufthansa extended its suspension of flights to and from Israel until 14 October, a move affecting Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings as well.
Several other airlines have halted their Israeli routes indefinitely. United Airlines and Croatia Airlines have stopped flights without announcing a specific timeline. Flights from LOT and Virgin Atlantic have been suspended until 25 September, British Airways until the 26th, Air India until 24 October, Ryanair until the 27th, and Vueling through the end of October. Delta Airlines, Air Canada, and EasyJet have postponed flights well into the end of 2024, with EasyJet pushing its suspension until the end of March 2025.
Concerns are growing among travellers with upcoming reservations, especially those booked for the Jewish holidays. Thousands of ultra-Orthodox pilgrims traditionally travel to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah. Despite the ongoing conflict, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport remains fully operational, with no flights being redirected to other countries, according to an airport authority spokesperson.
Israeli air strikes in Lebanon claim nearly 500 lives as death toll keeps rising
Airstrikes carried out by Israeli forces have intensified in recent days, and as of Monday, nearly 500 people have died in Lebanon as a result. The country experienced its deadliest day of Israeli airstrikes since the ongoing exchanges began nearly a year ago. According to Lebanese authorities, 492 people, including 35 children, lost their lives on Monday alone due to the strikes targeting Hezbollah militants, Világgazdaság writes in another article. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that the total casualty count includes 35 children and 58 women and that over 1,645 people have been injured. The death toll continues to rise as airstrikes persist.
US to send more troops to the Middle East
As the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalates, the United States is deploying more troops to the Middle East. In a daily press conference, Defense Department spokesman Pat Ryder said, without giving details, that it would be a small military contingent, but did not say what the new units would be tasked with, Világgazdaság reports.
Read also:
- Good news for passengers: Flight to Western Europe from Hungarian city continues to operate
- Wizz Air halts Rome route from Debrecen amid broader flight reductions
Featured image: depositphotos.com