Free Republic

Scandinavian Airlines announces it will stop flying to Tel Aviv as of March, cites political instability. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced on Monday it would be stopping its flights to Israel, citing “political instability” as being behind the decision. In addition to flights to the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, the airline also announced it would no longer include Moscow and Ankara among its destinations either. Flights from Copenhagen to Tel Aviv will cease in March of 2016, the airline announced, a little more than three years after Scandinavian Airlines launched its flight to Israel. "The route to Tel Aviv...

"The route hasn't been profitable, it's strictly a financial decision," Texas-based carrier says, cites $20 million in losses • Company to terminate Philadelphia-Tel Aviv route in January 2016 • Pennsylvania congressman: Decision will hurt both economies.

Press Release – FAA Statement–FAA Lifts Flight Restrictions for Ben Gurion International Airport The FAA has lifted its restrictions on U.S. airline flights into and out of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport by cancelling a Notice to Airmen it renewed earlier today. The cancellation is effective at approximately 11:45 p.m. EDT. Before making this decision, the FAA worked with its U.S. government counterparts to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation. The FAA’s primary mission and interest are the protection...

John Kerry Files (sic) to Tel Aviv Despite FAA Ban AP and ABC NewsTEL AVIV, Israel — Jul 23, 2014, 4:12 AM ET The top U.S. diplomat defied a Federal Aviation Administration ban and flew into Israel's main airport Wednesday in a sign of sheer will to achieve a cease-fire agreement in the warring Gaza Strip despite little evidence of progress in ongoing negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during what appeared to be a crucial day in the...

United, Delta and USAir have suspended all flights to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport after a Hamas rocket this afternoon landed in Yahud, some 5 kilometers from the airport (Hat Tip: NY Nana). The White House says that it did not order the flights suspended, but Delta said it made its decision in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. Delta said it suspended service to and from its New York JFK hub "until further notice," while the Israel Airports Authority would only confirm that the carriers had suspended flight scheduled for Monday. US Airways has not yet released a...

Transportation minister orders that Uvda airport near Eilat be utilized to replace Ben-Gurion Airport beginning noon local time. Transportation Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday instructed the relevant agencies to immediately open the Uvda airport, the country's second terminus for air traffic which lies just north of Eilat, in the wake of the spate of flight cancellations announced by major foreign airlines. Katz convened a meeting of senior civilian aviation officials who recommended that the Uvda airport be utilized to replace Ben-Gurion Airport. Related: • US urges deferral of travel to Israel, increases first aid to Gaza • El Al says...