Major Airlines Extend Flight Suspensions to Israel After Houthi Missile Strike

Following a Houthi missile attack on Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport on May 4, multiple major airlines have extended suspensions of flights to Tel Aviv due to security concerns. Ryanair extended its flight suspension until June 4, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, while Germany's Lufthansa Group, after unsuccessful efforts by Israeli authorities to demonstrate airport defenses, extended its suspension until May 31 and is considering limited morning flights upon resumption. United Airlines extended cancellations through June 12, leaving El Al and Arkia as the only carriers offering nonstop U.S.-Israel flights, which has driven airfares up. Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) also extended its suspension until May 18, citing passenger safety as the top priority. This renewed halt in flights represents a setback for airlines that had just begun to resume services following a ceasefire with Hamas earlier in 2025, with other carriers like AEGEAN and Air France-KLM also suspending flights amid the ongoing instability. Meanwhile, some non-Western airlines, including FlyDubai, Etihad, Ethiopian Airlines, and Blue Bird Airways, have continued operations uninterrupted.