Israel Travel Sector in Turmoil as Delta, United, Lufthansa, Air France, Air India, British and More Suspend Tel Aviv Flights After Missile Strike Near Ben Gurion and Yemen Conflict Escalates: Check the Full List

Airlines acted swiftly to suspend service, citing the growing risk to passenger safety and flight crew operations. The strike shattered what little confidence remained in regional airspace, with fears of further conflict escalating daily.

With both Tel Aviv and Sanaa impacted, the ripple effects are destabilizing the wider regional travel network.

The fallout has been immediate for the tourism industry. In Israel, where a summer rebound was underway following a temporary ceasefire with Hamas earlier in the year, hotel bookings in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Eilat have been decimated. Tour operators from Europe and North America are cancelling entire group itineraries. Cruise companies are reevaluating port calls in Haifa.

Yemen, already reeling from years of war, has now lost what little remained of NGO, humanitarian, and journalist air access. With Sanaa Airport offline, even essential missions are grounded.

The suspension of flights has unleashed a wave of insurance claims and customer service breakdowns. Platforms like Squaremouth report an uptick in demand for conflict zone coverage and cancellation-for-any-reason (CFAR) policies.

Travelers are scrambling to rebook through Amman, Cairo, and Istanbul, but available flights are limited and fares are skyrocketing.

Meanwhile, airlines are issuing rolling updates to their rebooking and refund policies, contributing to widespread confusion.

Many foreign embassies have suspended visa services and are urging citizens already in the region to depart through safe corridors as soon as possible.

Air traffic controllers in Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are managing a sudden spike in rerouted flights. Airlines are now avoiding the Sinai Peninsula, southern Saudi Arabia, and parts of Lebanon, increasing fuel costs and pushing flight times higher.

Some carriers have begun rerouting Europe-Asia flights to completely bypass the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea zones.

What began as a single missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport has become a regional airspace crisis. The combined suspension of flights to both Israel and Yemen has disrupted tourism, stranded thousands of travelers, and forced global airlines to reconsider Middle East operations entirely.

With conflict escalation far from over, more airlines may extend suspensions or cancel additional routes. Travelers planning trips to the region are urged to monitor airline advisories, purchase flexible insurance, and prepare for sudden itinerary changes.