Air India suspends Israel flights till July 31 amid West Asia tensions
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Jerusalem: Amid continuing geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia, Air India on Thursday announced the extension of its suspension of operations on the Tel Aviv–Delhi route until the end of July.
The airline had earlier suspended services till June-end, but with no clarity over the security situation in the region, it has now decided to extend the suspension by another month.
A senior executive overseeing Air India’s Israel operations said the schedule change was notified on Wednesday evening. “The flights have been further suspended till 31 July due to the geopolitical situation,” the official said.
Air India had first put its Tel Aviv operations on hold in the wake of the West Asia conflict that escalated in late February. The suspension was later extended in April until the end of May, followed by another extension to June-end, and now further pushed to July 31.
The ongoing instability has created multiple challenges for airlines operating in the region, including rising fuel costs and airspace restrictions, which have significantly increased operational expenses.
Despite a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, uncertainty in West Asia continues to affect aviation routes, forcing most international carriers to suspend or limit operations on the Tel Aviv route. Alongside Israeli airlines such as El Al, Israir, Arkia and Air Haifa, only a few international carriers have resumed partial services.
The disruption has severely impacted more than 40,000 Indians living in Israel, many of whom depend on the route to travel to India for work, family visits, or personal reasons, including those seeking to leave the region amid ongoing tensions.
Limited flight availability has also led to a sharp rise in travel costs, adding financial strain on Indian workers and residents in Israel.
With PTI inputs