Because of an ongoing war in Israel October 2023, 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 over the next month or so.
War in Israel: October 2023 Travel Alert
At least 1,300 people have been killed since members of a Palestinian militant 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. Thousands of people are injured; and dozens are being held hostage. The death toll will continue to rise. Nine of those dead victims are from the United States.
Several 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.
A Boeing 777-300ER airplane which operated as United Airlines flight 954 departed on Friday, October 6, 2023 from San Francisco to Tel Aviv — but as the airplane neared Greenland, it turned around back to San Francisco.
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.
Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from Israel and other parts of the Middle East over the next month or so, 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 thirteen 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 Saturday, October 21, 2023; and Saturday, October 28, 2023 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 Saturday, October 14, 2023; and Saturday, October 21, 2023 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 Saturday, October 14, 2023; and Saturday, October 21, 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 Friday, October 21, 2023; and Monday, October 30, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Sunday, October 15, 2023; and Sunday, October 29, 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 Friday, October 21, 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, October 15, 2023; and Friday, October 21, 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 for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Sunday, October 15, 2023; and Sunday, October 29, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Lufthansa has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Saturday, October 22, 2023. Flights have been canceled through Saturday, October 14, 2023.
- SWISS has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Saturday, October 7, 2023 through Saturday, October 22, 2023. Flights have been canceled through Saturday, October 14, 2023.
- LOT Polish Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv.
- Aegean Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv. All flights have been canceled through tomorrow, Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
- easyJet has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv. Flights have been canceled for today, Monday, October 9, 2023.
Additionally, flights to Tel Aviv that were operated by such airlines as Emirates Airline and Ryanair had reportedly been canceled.
The latest disruptions in departures from Tel Aviv can be viewed through FlightRadar24.
Final Boarding Call
The war in the Middle East has already started to cause ancillary ripple effects on travel throughout many parts of the world — and it has also revealed how divided the world is on this conflict.
If you are traveling within the next month or so, 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.
