British Airways and Iberia to resume Israel flights as international carriers return
London–Tel Aviv route restored amid post-ceasefire recovery in Israel’s aviation sector
British Airways and Iberia will both resume flights to Israel on Sunday, marking a significant boost to the country’s aviation recovery following months of disruption caused by conflict.
British Airways confirmed it will restart daily services between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, while Spain’s Iberia will relaunch its Madrid–Tel Aviv route, joining its rival Air Europa in restoring operations.
Their return comes amid a broader rebound in international travel to Israel following the ceasefire with Hamas earlier this month and the end of June’s 12-day conflict with Iran. The Israel Airports Authority said around 60 foreign carriers are now flying to Tel Aviv, up from fewer than 20 at the height of the fighting last year.
Scandinavian Airlines will also resume services next week, reinstating its Copenhagen–Tel Aviv route after a nine-year hiatus, alongside German budget airline Eurowings and Swiss International Air Lines. Italian flag carrier ITA Airways and Air India are expected to follow by the end of the year.
The return of major European airlines has begun to ease the soaring ticket prices that persisted during months of reduced capacity, with fares for winter travel now falling sharply across key routes.
Israeli flag carrier El Al also announced this week it is relaunching twice-daily domestic flights between Tel Aviv and Eilat after more than a decade, while expanding its network to meet renewed demand.
Some major airlines have yet to return, including American Airlines – the only major US carrier still suspending Israel flights – and Ryanair, whose return has been delayed indefinitely amid a dispute with the Israel Airports Authority over flight slots. Emirates is expected to resume its Tel Aviv service in the spring.
More than 68,000 passengers travelled through Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday alone across more than 400 international flights, according to official figures, signalling a strong recovery in Israel’s air traffic.
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