Several major foreign airlines, including United, the Lufthansa Group (with Brussels Airlines until 11 May), Air France, and Wizz Air, have extended flight suspensions to Tel Aviv after a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport on May 4.
The Iran-backed Houthi group has threatened to impose an aerial blockade on Israel, prompting airlines to act out of safety concerns. Only a few carriers, like Ethiopian Airlines and flydubai, continue service.
To assist stranded Israelis, local airline El Al capped one-way ticket prices from several major cities and added limited flights, though availability remains a major issue. Smaller Israeli airlines, Israir and Arkia, also added special flights. The flight suspensions have effectively handed El Al and local carriers a near-monopoly, boosting their stock prices.
In retaliation, Israel conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Despite Houthi threats, Israel’s defence systems are expected to intercept most missiles, making a true blockade unlikely.