From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Austrian Airlines, ITA said to suspend flights as crews unwilling to travel to Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Austrian Airlines and ITA Airways have suspended flights to Israel until at least the middle of this week after failing to fully staff flight crews, as pilots and flight attendants have been unwilling to travel to the country, Channel 12 reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the decisions by Austrian Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, and Italy’s flag carrier stemmed from staffing shortages rather than operational issues at Ben Gurion Airport.
Airport officials, meanwhile, emphasize to Channel 12 that operations remain “business as usual,” stressing that the airlines made their decisions independently.
The cancellations follow a warning from the US embassy in Jerusalem on Friday for American citizens to prepare for potential flight cancellations amid “heightened tensions” in the region, with increased concerns of escalation in the fighting between the US and Iran, the network notes.
Security Alert: Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex, with the potential for unforeseen escalation. U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution, stay alert, and be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace… pic.twitter.com/wnwHP7bjvF
— U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) July 24, 2026
Officials in the Transportation Ministry have been trying in recent hours to reassure other foreign airlines to prevent additional cancellations during the peak summer vacation season, Channel 12 adds, saying that roughly 100,000 passengers are expected to pass daily through Ben Gurion airport through July and August.
The Times of Israel Community.