The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has updated its guidance and extended its recommendation that airlines avoid flying to Israel—this time through May 12.
The decision comes against the backdrop of the volatile security situation and Western concerns about further escalation, a move that casts doubt on the return of dozens of foreign carriers to Ben Gurion Airport in the near term.
The extension is creating a domino effect among airlines, some of which have already rushed to update their flight schedules. The most prominent example is popular low-cost carrier Wizz Air, which, as first reported here, has pushed back its return until at least May 21. In light of the latest update from Europe, industry estimates are that the airline will soon announce additional delays.
The impact on Israeli travelers is clear and painful: less competition in the skies, fewer European airlines landing in Israel, and uncertainty expected to continue as long as security tensions in the region don’t subside.