The Lufthansa Group has announced it will extend the suspension of all flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport until 2 April 2026, citing the ongoing security situation in the Middle East and continued airspace restrictions in the region.
The German aviation group, which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and ITA Airways, said the decision follows a reassessment of the evolving geopolitical situation and the operational limitations affecting Israeli airspace.
Airlines including Lufthansa Group and Air France–KLM have extended flight suspensions to parts of the Middle East as regional conflict continues, affecting routes to cities such as Tel Aviv, Beirut and Dubai. #IranIsraelUS #AirplaneHunk
— EEO News (@Inter_eeo) March 10, 2026
Flight operations to Tel Aviv were initially halted on 28 February, when Israel closed its airspace after a joint United States and Israeli strike on Iranian targets triggered heightened regional tensions. The closure forced airlines across the world to suspend or divert flights while governments advised citizens in the region to monitor safety updates.
Flights halted as airspace restrictions continue
According to Lufthansa Group, the suspension applies to all services to and from Tel Aviv as well as connecting flights from the Israeli city to other destinations within the group’s network. While Israel has partially reopened its airspace for limited operations by domestic carriers, international airlines remain cautious as the security situation continues to evolve.
The disruption has affected several European routes, including the Brussels–Tel Aviv connection operated by Brussels Airlines, which is widely used by business travellers, expatriates and members of the diplomatic community travelling between Belgium and Israel.
Passengers affected by the suspension are being offered flexible rebooking options or full refunds. Travel management companies are advising travellers with urgent journeys to consider alternative routing through hubs such as Athens or Istanbul, which have maintained limited connectivity to Israel during the disruption.
Wider impact across the Middle East network
The airline group has also adjusted its broader Middle East schedule in response to security concerns and regional airspace restrictions. Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Amman and Erbil remain suspended until at least 15 March, while services to Beirut are cancelled until 28 March and flights to Tehran remain suspended until 30 April.
Despite the reductions, some routes in the region continue to operate. Lufthansa and ITA Airways are maintaining flights to Riyadh, while Eurowings is continuing its scheduled services to Jeddah.
Tourism sector facing wider consequences
The aviation disruptions come as the broader travel and tourism sector faces mounting uncertainty due to the conflict. Analysts have warned that prolonged airspace closures and negative traveller sentiment could significantly impact tourism demand across the Middle East.
As reported by Travel Tomorrow, the conflict could result in between 23 and 38 million fewer travellers to the region in 2026, potentially leading to losses of between $34 billion and $56 billion in visitor spending.
For now, airlines are prioritising safety while monitoring developments closely. As the situation continues to evolve, carriers are expected to reassess flight operations regularly, with the resumption of international services likely to depend on improvements in regional stability and airspace access.
