From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
European aviation regulator softens recommendation to avoid Israeli airspace
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSharon Wrobel is a tech reporter for The Times of Israel
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) softens a recommendation against operating in Israeli airspace, instead warning airlines to have strict risk monitoring procedures for flights over the country.
The European safety agency recommends airlines “exercise caution and take potential risks into account when operating within the airspace of Israel. ”
“A temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced on 8 April 2026 and subsequently extended on 21 April 2026, is currently holding,” the EASA says. “While the overall level of risk has decreased in the region, the sustainability of the ceasefire remains uncertain in the longer term.”
“Therefore, close monitoring and up-to-date risk assessments remain essential to ensure safety of flights,” the EASA adds.
Despite the US brokered ceasefire, the EASA has continued to extend an advisory urging avoidance of Israeli airspace, prompting major European airlines, including the Lufthansa Group, to continue suspending flights to and from Israel through May, while US carriers have pushed back their return to as far as September.
The Times of Israel Community.