easyJet suspends Tel Aviv flights until at least winter — joins growing list of carriers avoiding Israel

British low-cost carrier easyJet announced it will not resume flight operations to and from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport until at least the winter season. The airline had been expected to restart its Tel Aviv route on March 29 — itself already a postponement — but has now pushed that date back entirely amid the ongoing war with Iran. 'We have taken the decision not to operate to and from Tel Aviv this summer as part of our continuous review of our flying programme,' easyJet said. 'We are continuing to closely monitor the situation with a view to resuming flying this winter.' All affected customers were notified and offered full refunds or alternative flights. easyJet joins a growing list of international carriers that have suspended Israel service since Ben Gurion Airport's airspace was closed on February 28 with the outbreak of the war. Ben Gurion has been operating on severely restricted capacity — outbound flights only, approximately 2 planes per hour, carrying 70-100 passengers each — far below its normal capacity of hundreds of daily flights. The suspension of European budget carriers represents a significant blow to Israeli tourism and civilian aviation that will compound the war's economic impact long after a ceasefire.