British Airways last night cancelled its London - Tel Aviv flight due to the attack on Iraq. None of the other foreign airline companies operating in Israel effected any changes in their flight schedules because of the situation. British Airways plans to disallow air stewards and other crews to stay in Israel tonight, and plans to evacuate them to Cyprus.
The British company changed its flight schedule to Israel in previous rounds of conflict between the UN and the US, and Iraq. During the previous confrontation, the airline’s flights from Britain and from Israel were delayed, and management decided to transfer its air crews to hotels in Cyprus.
Airline and tourism sources today criticized the British company’s policy, which differs from that of all the other European and American airline companies operating in Israel. US Tower Air will not cancel flights or make changes in schedule; Air France will operate two flights today, as will German airline company Lufthansa. El Al announced that it would operate all its flights, guaranteeing not to make any changes in schedule.
British Airways spokesperson in Israel said in response that the decision not to operate its flight to Israel stemmed from the directives of the British Foreign Office, which published a warning and declared Israel a danger spot for British citizens. Two hundred and sixty passengers were already seated in the airplane, but they were made to disembark minutes before take off, when the attack on Iraq started.
Published by Israel's Business Arena December 17, 1998