International airlines have continued to suspend flights this past week amid escalating fears of renewed missile attacks from Yemen’s Houthi group, which has intensified concerns over the safety of air travel in the region.
One of the latest carriers to announce flight cancellations is Spanish airline Air Europa, which stated on Friday that it would cancel its scheduled Tel Aviv-Madrid flights on Sunday, citing the “situation in Israel.” This marks the latest addition to a growing list of airlines avoiding Israeli airspace due to rising regional tensions.
Earlier in the week, Iberia Express, another Spanish airline, extended its suspension of flights to Israel until June 1. Similarly, British Airways also announced it would cancel all flights to and from Israel until June 15, according to Israeli media reports.
The flight disruptions come on the heels of a major security incident last Sunday, when a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi movement landed near Israel’s main international airport in Tel Aviv, injuring seven people and prompting a temporary suspension of all takeoffs and landings at Ben Gurion Airport.
The Houthi group claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that it was in retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza. The attack has led to further security concerns and the ongoing suspension of flights to Israel.
In response to the heightened threat, US carriers such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have extended their flight suspensions through May 18 and May 19, respectively. Other international airlines are also following suit, including Lufthansa Group (which encompasses Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings), which has suspended flights until May 18. Air France and Transavia have paused operations until May 13, while Hungary’s Wizz Air cancelled flights through May 8. Aegean Airlines (Greece) and ITA Airways (Italy) have extended their suspensions until mid-May.
Other airlines, such as LOT Polish Airlines, Air India, Air Baltic, and Ethiopian Airlines, have either suspended or reduced their flights over the past few days in response to the growing uncertainty.
The cancellation wave reflects mounting concerns over the security of Israeli airspace. This comes on the back of recent joint Israeli-US airstrikes in Yemen that targeted Houthi positions, resulting in at least seven deaths and dozens of injuries. These strikes also led to significant infrastructure damage and the closure of Sanaa International Airport.
In addition to missile threats, the Houthi group has been actively targeting ships passing through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli military’s assault on Gaza has resulted in an estimated 52,800 deaths, most of whom have been women and children, according to reports.
While the Houthis had paused their attacks during a ceasefire agreement in Gaza earlier this year, they resumed hostilities following Israel’s renewed airstrikes on Gaza in March. The ongoing conflict has led to further international scrutiny, including war crimes charges against Israeli officials such as Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and Gallant last November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Furthermore, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its ongoing military campaign in the enclave.
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