The renewed closure of Israeli airspace after US airstrikes on Iran on June 22, 2025, interrupted limited rescue flight operations launched by Israeli carriers on June 18. However, El Al Israel Airlines (LY, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) said it would restart rescue charters on June 23, albeit with a cap of 50 passengers per departure.
The flag carrier said that starting on June 23, it would operate flights to Larnaca, Athens, Rome Fiumicino, London Heathrow, New York JFK, Los Angeles International, and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. Potential passengers have to register on the carrier's website, but given the limited number of seats available they are not guaranteed a ticket. The airline said it would prioritise passengers who held tickets for cancelled flights and emergency cases.
El Al's scheduled flights are currently suspended until the end of June. The carrier is not accepting any new bookings until July 15 to prioritise existing customers once flights resume. Israir and Arkia Israeli Airlines have also cancelled their scheduled flights until at least June 30, airHaifa until June 28. All four airlines are operating rescue flights to selected destinations.
Israeli airlines initially suspended all flight operations on June 13, after Israel attacked Iran and prompted Tehran's retaliatory attacks. Limited rescue flights to and from Tel Aviv resumed on June 18. The direct US involvement caused a renewed total closure of the airspace. It reopened on June 22 at 1400L (1100Z) but only to flights preapproved by the Israeli civil aviation authority. This restriction will remain in force through at least 0259L on June 25 (2359Z on June 24). Iranian and Iraqi airspace remains closed until further notice.
Significant uncertainty and operational complications caused by the escalation have prompted multiple international airlines to suspend not only their flights to Tel Aviv or other directly affected countries, but also other regional destinations. Multiple international carriers cancelled their flights to Dubai International, Abu Dhabi International, and Doha Hamad International on the weekend of June 20-22, with further cancellations possible at short notice and contingent on the situation.
