Restrictions on Israeli airspace expected to stay in place through April 16, pending developments

Israel’s wartime restrictions on the country’s airspace are expected to remain in place through April 16, subject to security developments.

That’s because Israeli aviation authorities have extended a so-called technical notice to airmen (NOTAM) through April 16. A NOTAM provides pilots, flight crews, and other users of airspace with critical safety notices, including airspace and airport restrictions or operational conditions impacting flight activity.

Israel’s airspace has been shut to most regular commercial traffic since February 28, when joint attacks with the US on Iran began. Since the country’s airspace was partially reopened in early March for repatriation flights, only Israeli airlines have been permitted to operate a restricted wartime flight schedule.

“We would like to clarify that there is no change to the status of Israel’s airspace,” the Israel Airports Authority says in a statement. “The NOTAM published today is a technical extension of the status existing since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion, and can be updated, shortened, or extended at any time, including on a daily basis and in accordance with developments.”

The NOTAM issued as Israel’s airspace was closed means that foreign airlines can’t operate flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. EU and US aviation safety agencies have also issued warnings against flying in the region.