British Airways Resumes Israel Flights Beginning April

British Airways (BA) has announced plans to resume flights to and from Israel, starting in April. The decision comes after the airline suspended services to Tel Aviv in October during the heightened hostilities between Israel and Hamas. BA aims to launch four return services per week from April 1.

The airline explained that it made a commercial decision to shift Tel Aviv to its short-haul network when flights restart in April. This adjustment aligns Tel Aviv flights with other similar-length routes operated by BA. However, the decision is subject to continuous review, considering the evolving nature of the conflict in the region.

It is noted that the choice of using smaller aircraft for these flights reflects the anticipation of potentially weak demand due to the ongoing conflict. The restart of operations will be closely monitored, taking into account the situation on the ground.

Customers who were already booked on flights to and from Tel Aviv will be contacted by BA. They will be given options to either rebook onto a new short-haul flight, request a refund, or choose an alternative service.

The Heathrow-Tel Aviv flights are set to include a 45-minute stop in Cyprus. This stop is necessary for a crew change since flight staff cannot currently stay in Tel Aviv due to safety concerns. Strict adherence to flying hour regulations is also cited as a reason for the crew change.

BA's decision to halt services to Tel Aviv last year placed it among the major international airlines, with the exception of El Al, that took such measures during the deepening hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Notably, carriers like Etihad and Fly Dubai continued their flights to Tel Aviv during that period.

EasyJet, another airline that suspended Israel flights last year, mentioned that it is still reviewing the situation, while keeping a close eye on developments. The decision to resume Tel Aviv flights and the operational details are contingent on the ongoing situation in the region.