KLM cancels weekend flights to Tel Aviv, amid Iran tensions
Dutch airlines also cancel flights to Dubai and pair of Saudi cities, but no changes to guidelines from IDF or aviation authorities
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Dutch airline KLM canceled flights to Tel Aviv over the weekend, citing “the geopolitical situation” amid concern of renewed conflict with Iran.
A statement from the airlines, which is owned by the holding company Air France-KLM, said that “as a precaution,” it was avoiding the airspace of Israel, Iraq, Iran and other unnamed “countries in the Gulf region.”
“This means that, until further notice, we will not be operating flights to Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Tel Aviv,” KLM said. “Passengers will be rebooked as soon as possible.”
The move follows Lufthansa Group’s decision last week to cancel night-time flights to Israel until at least the end of January. The group includes carriers Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings.
The cancellations came as the US beefed up its military presence in the region amid threats to strike Iran over its brutal repression of recent anti-regime protests.
However, there have been no special security warnings from either European or Israeli aviation authorities, and the Israel Defense Forces on Friday also reiterated that there were no changes in the military’s guidelines for the Israeli public.
“Ahead of the Sabbath, I want to say to all citizens of Israel: the IDF is optimally prepared, both defensively and offensively. It is important to emphasize that there is no change to the Home Front Command’s instructions. We will ensure to update you if there is any change,” said IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin on X.
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.