KLM suspends all flights to Tel Aviv until the end of this year

KLM confirmed on Tuesday that it will not operate flights to Tel Aviv, Israel, until at least the end of this year. The Dutch airline is extending its suspension of flights to that destination, which was scheduled to end on October 26.

This decision was made recently, a KLM spokesperson said. The decision is amid rising tensions in the Middle East due to the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Incidentally, KLM itself does not service the airport in Beirut, Lebanon.

Its subsidiary passenger airline, Transavia, has put a temporary stop to flights to Beirut until November 3, and to Tel Aviv until the end of March next year. According to a spokesperson for Transavia, the situation is being closely monitored.

KLM partner carrier Air France also suspended its flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv for the time being. The German airline Lufthansa previously announced that it would also stop flying to the two cities for a longer period.

Flights to Lebanon are now postponed until the end of November and flights to Tel Aviv until the end of this month. Lufthansa flights to the Iranian capital of Tehran will not take place until at least October 14.

European aviation authorities said on Saturday that airlines should avoid the airspace over Lebanon and Israel for the time being. The European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned in a statement of “a general intensification of airstrikes and deterioration of the security situation.” The official recommendation applies until October 31.

The Israeli military launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon late Monday night. The military said it is focused on attacking Hezbollah targets.