After re-evaluating the situation the US Federal Aviation Administration says flights to and from Israel can resume.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this morning lifted the ban on flights to and from Israel by US airlines, and the European authorities followed suit sohrtly afterwards. The suspension of flights was first announced on Tuesday afternoon Israel-time after a Hamas rocket had hit a house in Yehud not far from Ben Gurion airport. The ban was extended by a further 24 hours yesterday but after re-evaluating the situation this morning, the FAA decided to recommend that carriers can resume flying to and from Israel.
Yesterday the FAA had said, "The FAA is working closely with the Israeli government to examine new data that has been provided and determine the potential risks for US civil aviation." The FAA was waiting on clarifications regarding safety at Ben Gurion airport from Israel's Ministry of Transport.
As of yesterday evening, 80 flights by foreign airlines to and from Israel had been canceled, according to the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, and at least 8,000 Israelis were stranded in Israel and overseas. While all three Israeli airlines were operating El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL), Arkia Airlines Ltd. and Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. and adding flights, only seven foreign carriers including British Airways were flying to and from Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 24, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014
Ben Gurion Airport