Germany’s Lufthansa airline group announced on Friday that it will restart flights to and from Tel Aviv starting June 23, after suspending operations earlier this month due to escalating regional conflict. The decision marks a cautious step toward restoring air connectivity with Israel amid heightened security concerns.
In a statement, Lufthansa clarified that the restart will involve multiple subsidiaries, including Austrian, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, ITA, and Lufthansa Cargo. However, the airline emphasized that, “for operational reasons,” each airline will gradually resume services rather than doing so all at once.
The airline’s decision followed an extensive security assessment conducted in coordination with relevant authorities. “The decision is based on an extensive security analysis and in coordination with the relevant authorities,” the statement read.
The suspension was initially implemented after a rocket attack near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on May 4, launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The missile struck a parking area, injuring six people marking the first time a missile penetrated the airport perimeter.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel since the conflict in Gaza erupted in October 2023, following Hamas’s attack on Israel. Although they paused their attacks during a two-month Gaza ceasefire that ended in March, hostilities resumed after Israel renewed its military operations in the region.
Israeli defense forces have intercepted several recent projectiles, with most of the launches falling within the country’s missile defense system’s reach. Lufthansa’s cautious move to restart flights reflects ongoing concerns over security but also signifies a step toward normalizing international air travel to the region.
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