Delta stops flying to Tel Aviv, citing rocket attacks

[sn26567]

US carrier Delta Air Lines has suspended flights to Israel "indefinitely", citing report of rocket attack in Tel Aviv close to Ben Gurion Airport.

Today's Delta flight between New York and Tel Aviv had almost reached Tel Aviv before being diverted to Paris CDG, a SkyTeam hub with huge possibilities of connecting flights.


Picture FR24

[regi]

At last a sensable reaction: "don't fly where there are real risks"

[CTBke]

Question is if other airliners will follow Delta's decision ...

[Flanker2]

The FAA has banned all flights between U.S. and TLV after rockets landed close to the airport.
Oh don't worry, there will be plenty of cash-strapped airlines in Europe that will do the job until body parts start dropping over the Gaza roofs.

The Israel Airport Authority told CNN that the U.S. companies made the decisions on their own, and urged them to reconsider, saying that the airport was safe.

cnn.com

Bravo on Delta and that diverted flight's captain. Here you see why DL is becoming the number one airline in the U.S.: they have their feet firmly on the ground, even at flight level. It's just not worth taking such risks for that pocket change.

[airazurxtror]

http://www.lesoir.be/606107/article/act ... ers-israel

La compagnie aérienne Brussels Airlines a annulé un vol prévu mardi soir et trois autres programmés mercredi à destination de Tel Aviv, en raison d’incertitudes entourant la sécurité sur place, a-t-on appris mardi soir. Un vol de Jetair, qui devait rejoindre Tel Aviv mardi a quant à lui été dévié vers Chypre pour les mêmes raisons, a indiqué la porte-parole. Le vol, avec 102 passagers à bord, devrait atterrir à Chypre vers 19h45. Les passagers seront accueillis sur place ou rapatriés vers Bruxelles. Un autre vol Jetair prévu jeudi sera vraisemblablement annulé, mais la décision n’a pas encore été prise.

Brussels Airlines has canceled a flight scheduled for Tuesday evening and three other scheduled on Wednesday to Tel Aviv, because of uncertainties surrounding the on-site security. A Jetair flight, which was to join Tel Aviv Tuesday has been diverted to Cyprus for the same reasons, said the spokeswoman. The flight, with 102 passengers on board, is expected to arrive in Cyprus around 19.45. Passengers will be welcomed on site or returned to Brussels. Another Jetair flight scheduled for Thursday will likely be canceled, but the decision has not been taken yet.

[Flanker2]

Bravo on the Belgian airlines for taking their responsibilities.

[sn26567]

EASA (Europe) joins FAA (USA) in banning flights to TLV. OS announced that flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel discontinued for the next 36 hours. This affects also all flights from Lufthansa (which has diverted a cargo flight en route), Germanwings and Swiss. Air Canada have cancelled Tel Aviv flight tonight AC84 YYZ-TLV and return AC85 TLV-YYZ 23/07.

A Transaero flight to Tel Aviv out of Moscow is diverting back to Moscow VKO. Currently near the Ukrainian no-fly zone...

[sn26567]

Four other flights en route to TLV are diverting away: PGT785, AFL504, THY788, CAI445.

Follow them on FR24:
http://www.flightradar24.com/PGT785/3e1283f
http://www.flightradar24.com/AFL504/3e11582
http://www.flightradar24.com/THY1BP/3e0f09e
http://www.flightradar24.com/CAI445/3e14c7b

The Pegasus flight even did a go-around at TLV...

But El Al and ... Ukraine International Airlines don't give a sh*t about rockets and keeps flying.

[sn26567]

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asks US Secretary of State John Kerry to take action to renew flights of US airlines to Israel.

[sn26567]

A Jetair flight, which was to join Tel Aviv Tuesday has been diverted to Cyprus for the same reasons, said the spokeswoman. The flight, with 102 passengers on board, is expected to arrive in Cyprus around 19.45. Passengers will be welcomed on site or returned to Brussels.

The Jetairfly B737-700 OO-JAO is returning to BRU from Larnaca (and not Paphos, which is a Jetairfly destination) with its passengers. ETA 01:45.

[tolipanebas]

The following SN flights to TLV are cancelled for tomorrow (23/07):
SN3289
SN1591
SN3291
As all LH Group airlines halt their operations to TLV.

[CTBke]

The only airlines still operating are El Al and Arkia all other carriers cancelled their flights... which is a good signal...

[regi]

The only airlines still operating are El Al and Arkia all other carriers cancelled their flights... which is a good signal...

Would El Al have that anti missile system active on airplanes doing routes to safe zones ?

[CTBke]

maybe it's standard on their planes ...

[airazurxtror]

During the winter 1984-85, there was a real war in Lebanon, and the Sabena was amongst the last to keep landing in Beyrouth - before finally retreating to Larnaca.
One has to hand it to them, the Sabena pilots were not easily scared ...

[airazurxtror]

Just after 1pm, Germany's Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian airlines announced they were also suspending service to Ben Gurion for 36 hours, followed by the Dutch KLM, Air France and Air Canada.

But British Airways said that it will continue operating flights to Israel 'as normal' while monitoring the situation closely.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z38HbYgUaX

British staying power !

[AF036]

DHL keeps on flying there as well... altrough positioning the aircraft to LCA for the layover.

[sn26567]

The Lufthansa group cancels also tomorrow's flights to TLV. Brussels Airlines cancels its flights until 25 July. Jetairfly cancels its flight of 24/07.

[Inquirer]

Indeed, here's a formal press source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/ ... 9R20140723
A total of 20 flights per day are affected.

[Inquirer]

The Israeli government is proposing airlines that want to avoid tel aviv to use another military airport.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-d ... m-1.606790
No airlines have accepted the offer, so far, but no reason was stated.
Anybody knows more?