Israel partially resumes international flights amid heightened security concerns

Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority has initiated a limited resumption of outbound flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, marking the first departures since the complete suspension on June 13 due to escalating tensions with Iran.

Under the newly imposed regulations, each outbound flight is restricted to a maximum of 50 passengers, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

This stringent cap forms part of comprehensive security protocols designed to mitigate risks at the airport, which remains a potential target amid the conflict. The reduced passenger count aims to minimize crowding on the tarmac and enhance overall safety.

Officials anticipate that more than 1,000 individuals will depart Israel on June 23 during this initial phase. Many of the passengers are foreign nationals who had been stranded since hostilities began, alongside Israeli citizens with urgent reasons for travel. Given the limited seating capacity, priority boarding is being granted exclusively to those in life-saving, humanitarian, and national security categories.

“We expect local airlines to operate 24 repatriation flights arriving from international destinations today,” stated Transportation Minister Miri Regev. She further explained, “On each outgoing flight, no more than 50 passengers will be allowed to depart. We must reduce the number of people on the tarmac during this challenging period when the airport can be a target.”

By Vafa Guliyeva