EasyJet extends Israel flight suspension until March 2026 amid security concerns
UK airline postpones Tel Aviv route return after Houthi missile strike and Iran conflict; Israeli carriers left alone on key European routes
EasyJet has announced it will not resume flights to and from Tel Aviv until late March 2026, having cancelled previous plans to restart operations this June after a Houthi missile attack and the recent Israel-Iran escalation.
The British low-cost airline said in a statement on Tuesday that all routes to Ben Gurion Airport would remain grounded through the winter season. Flights are now expected to resume from 29 March 2026 “at the earliest”.
“To provide our customers with certainty on our winter flying schedule, we will no longer be operating flights to Tel Aviv up to and including 28 March 2026,” a spokesperson said. “We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and remain committed to resuming our Tel Aviv flying from summer 2026.”
The decision follows a string of delays dating back to 2023, when easyJet first halted its Israel operations after the Hamas-led 7 October attacks and escalating regional instability. Its planned June return was postponed after a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport, and again following the 12-day Operation Rising Lion against the Iranian regime.
The latest move is seen by analysts as a vote of no confidence in Israel’s short-term aviation stability, even as other foreign carriers – including United Airlines, Lufthansa, Aegean, Air Europa and Wizz Air – restart their services.
EasyJet had served several high-demand European routes from Tel Aviv, including London Luton, Amsterdam, Berlin, Geneva, Milan, and Basel. With the airline grounded until spring, those destinations are now only accessible via Israeli carriers such as El Al, Arkia and Israir.
Seats on those remaining flights are already nearing capacity, with August routes to cities like Amsterdam, Berlin and Geneva reportedly sold out in economy class.
El Al, Arkia and Israir are expected to maintain and expand their schedules to meet surging demand, including Israir’s planned Milan route launch next month.
The UK’s flag carrier, British Airways, has also suspended Tel Aviv flights until the end of October.
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