Flights to Israel Canceled Amid Security Concerns
The flight cancellations have significant implications for the region, with Yemen emerging as a key player and the security situation in Israel remaining volatile. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the cancellations will impact the region and when flights to Israel will resume.
Ryanair has canceled flights to Israel until at least August, citing reasons "beyond our control", as other airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, and United also suspend services due to security concerns.
The cancellations follow a Houthi missile strike at Ben-Gurion Airport in April, which has led to a volatile security situation in Israel. British Airways has extended the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until the end of July, while Ryanair has joined other airlines in rerouting its planes to other destinations for the peak summer season. This has left thousands of Israelis to scramble for alternative flights, with an estimated 200,000 tickets being annulled.
Yemeni activist Ahmed Hassan Zaid views the decision to cancel flights as an implicit admission of the success of Yemeni military operations, particularly in imposing a new regional deterrence equation. He believes that Western states, including the UK, have acknowledged Yemen's military prowess and are diverging from Israeli expansionist policies. Zaid also notes that Yemeni forces have repeatedly targeted Israeli and American targets, including US warships and aircraft carriers, and have successfully struck Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
The cancellations have resulted in a near-monopoly on some routes for Israeli airlines, setting exorbitant ticket prices. While the cancellations have benefited Israeli airlines, they have also driven up ticket prices for local airlines. Ryanair passengers are entitled to a full refund, but many have already paid for non-refundable expenses abroad.
The situation remains uncertain, with the security concerns in Israel showing no signs of abating. As the summer season approaches, many are left wondering when flights to Israel will resume, and what the long-term implications of these cancellations will be for the region.