Israel
Source: Google Maps —Imagery ©2023 TerraMetrics; map data ©2023 Maps GISrael, Google.
Brian Cohen·
News
··3 Comments·5 min read

Updated Travel Alerts: War in Israel October 2023

This war is likely not going to end anytime soon.

Because of updated travel alerts of the war in Israel October 2023 that have been issued by airlines, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the unrest — if Israel and other locations in the Middle East that are near that country are in your travel plans within the foreseeable future.

Updated Travel Alerts: War in Israel October 2023

At least 1,400 people have been killed since members of a terrorist group in Gaza called Hamas launched thousands of surprise rocket attacks and ground assaults in Israel early in the morning on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The war has since intensified and shows no signs of abating anytime soon, with claims that thousands of people have been killed and thousands more are injured; and dozens are being held hostage. The death toll will continue to rise. At least nine of those dead victims are from the United States.

At least 15 security alerts have been issued by the Department of State of the United States, along with updated travel information. Citizens of the United States who are seeking to be in touch with the United States Embassy in Israel are advised to either click here or call +1-888-407-4747.

The official Internet web site of Ben Gurion Airport — which is the international airport that serves Tel Aviv — reports at the time this article was written that the airport is still open. Regardless, a number of airlines have temporarily suspended operations to that airport because dozens of rockets were launched towards the airport from the Gaza Strip. At least one rocket reportedly breached the perimeter of the airport itself.

Fellow frequent travelers on FlyerTalk have started to report with their first-hand accounts on the situation in Israel.

Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations

If you are traveling to or from Israel and other parts of the Middle East within the foreseeable future, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this war which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.

If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.

Here are nineteen airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this active conflict:

  • American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Monday, December 4, 2023; and Wednesday, January 31, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Delta Air Lines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Friday, September 6, 2024; and Friday, September 6, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • United Airlines has issued travel alerts for Amman and Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Thursday, November 30, 2023; and Sunday, December 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • JetBlue Airways has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Tuesday, October 31, 2023; and Tuesday, October 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Air Canada has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Thursday, November 30, 2023; and Sunday, December 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
    • Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled until further notice.
    • Beirut for Saturday, October 14, 2023 through Thursday, November 30, 2023; and Sunday, December 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • El Al Airlines has issued travel alerts for Tel Aviv and other airports in Israel for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Sunday, December 31, 2023; and because of the fluidity of the situation, information has been changing on a real-time basis.
  • Virgin Atlantic Airways has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Sunday, December 31, 2023; and Sunday, December 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Air France has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled until Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
  • British Airways has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled through Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
  • Lufthansa has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled through Thursday, November 30, 2023.
  • SWISS has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled through Thursday, November 30, 2023.
  • LOT Polish Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Friday, October 6, 2023 through Thursday, November 30, 2023; and Sunday, December 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Emirates Airline has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled until Tuesday, November 14, 2023; and Thursday, November 30, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Aeromexico has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Friday, October 6, 2023 through Tuesday, October 31, 2023; and Thursday, November 30, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Aegean Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
    • Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled through Friday, November 10, 2023.
    • Beirut with which flights have been canceled through tomorrow, Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
  • Korean Air has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Monday, October 9, 2023 through Sunday, December 31, 2023; and Sunday, December 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Vueling Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
    • Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled through Sunday, November 5, 2023; and flights will not be for sale through Thursday, November 30, 2023.
    • Beirut with which flights have been canceled through Saturday, November 4, 2023; and flights will not be for sale through Sunday, November 12, 2023.
  • easyJet has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv with which flights have been canceled through Thursday, November 30, 2023.

The latest disruptions in departures from Tel Aviv can be viewed through FlightRadar24.

Final Boarding Call

The war in the Middle East has already caused ancillary ripple effects on travel throughout many parts of the world — and it has also revealed how divided the world is on this conflict.

See also

If you are traveling within the foreseeable future, be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.

Source: Google Maps —Imagery ©2023 TerraMetrics; map data ©2023 Maps GISrael, Google.

Related

3 Comments

  1. Depending on the circumstances of one’s trip, it may be better to wait for the flight to be cancelled or suspended then get a refund. During the early days of the pandemic, I foolishly cancelled a reservation. I eventually got miles for the two flights, outbound and inbound, because the airline allowed it if you couldn’t use your credit. If I would have waited until the day or two before the flight, I would have gotten a refund for one flight because it was cancelled. If it wasn’t cancelled, I could have done what I did, which is to cancel, get a credit, and later exchange the credit for miles when the airline found that many people had credits that they couldn’t use.

    One exception might be if you must travel to Israel and want to fly on a specific later date. In that case, rebooking is fine.

    One disclaimer is that my comments are just about airfare, not the political, military, or humanitarian aspects of the conflict. The conflict is tragic with much loss of life.

    Reply

    1. It depends on the policy. Some airlines have already said they will give refunds. On the other hand, I wouldn’t cancel a flight until the last minute either, since the situation can change at any moment.

      Reply

  2. I have a trip to Israel planned in December for a wedding and unless I can’t get there, I plan to go. It would be nice if, instead of just offering a refund or rebooked ticket, if they would offer a ticket on another airline.

    May G-d bring peace to Israel immediately and end the ordeal of the hostages with their immediate, safe release.

    Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© 2006-2023 The Gate with Brian Cohen All Rights Reserved.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to The Gate with Brian Cohen with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!