FRANKFURT- Lufthansa Group has confirmed a phased restart of services to Tel Aviv (TLV), with member carriers Lufthansa Airlines (LH), Austrian Airlines (OS), Swiss International Air Lines (LX), and Eurowings (EW) resuming flights between June and mid-July.
The routes have remained suspended since the outbreak of the Iran conflict at the end of February.
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air (W6) will also restart its Tel Aviv (TLV) operations from May 28, while Brussels Airlines (SN) plans to keep its services suspended until October 24.
The phased reactivation follows updated regional safety guidance from European aviation regulator EASA.
Lufthansa Group Restart Tel Aviv Flights
Austrian Airlines (OS) will be the first within the Lufthansa Group to return to Tel Aviv, with services resuming from the start of June. The Vienna-based flag carrier will reconnect the Israeli city with its hub at Vienna International Airport (VIE).
German flag carrier Lufthansa (LH) and Swiss International Air Lines aim to begin flights to Tel Aviv at the start of July.
Leisure unit Eurowings will follow suit by the middle of July, restoring its low-cost connections to the Israeli city.
Brussels Airlines remains the only Group carrier holding back, with its Brussels Airport (BRU) to Tel Aviv route suspended until October 24.
Lufthansa stated that the decision to gradually resume the routes follows a comprehensive safety and security assessment.
Wizz Air Returns Earlier Than Group Carriers
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air has confirmed an earlier comeback, with Tel Aviv flights set to resume from May 28.
The airline cited the latest update from European aviation regulator EASA along with its ongoing coordination with international and local authorities as the basis for the decision.
The early restart positions Wizz Air ahead of major full-service competitors returning later in the summer schedule.
Updated Middle East Airspace Advisory
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an updated advisory yesterday covering airspace across the Middle East and Persian Gulf, valid through May 27.
According to Flight Global, the guidance continues to recommend that carriers do not operate within the affected airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.
For the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, EASA recommends that operators exercise caution and take potential risks into account when planning operations.
Middle East Carriers Also Restoring Regional Network
Carriers based in the Middle East are simultaneously moving to restore some flights. After withdrawing from several markets early during the war in Iran, Qatar Airways (QR) continues working to restore service to key cities throughout the region.
On May 13, the Doha-based carrier resumed twice-daily flights to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).
Abu Dhabi now becomes the third UAE destination served by Qatar Airways, behind Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ).
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