Operation is still restricted, with a limit of up to 50 passengers per plane with priority for emergency cases
Tel Aviv Airport, Israel’s main air terminal, resumed on Monday (23.jun.2025) international flights from the country. The country has been, for over a week, with airspace closed because of the conflict with Iran.
The operation is limited to 50 passengers per aircraft as a safety measure. It will enable foreigners retained in Israel to return to their countries for the first time since the conflict began on June 13. Due to the limited number of flights, priority will be given to humanitarian cases, medical emergencies and national security situations. According to information from the newspaper the measure will allow more than 1,000 people to leave the country this Monday (23.jun).
According to Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev, the restriction on the number of passengers is a way to reduce the time of the aircraft on the ground, a recommendation from the Israeli Internal Front Command. “We need to limit the number of passengers on aircraft on the track during this challenging period when the airport can be a target“, These.
Regev said that by the weekend it will be possible to evaluate an increase in the number of output flights according to the evolution of the safety situation.
Since Wednesday (18.Jun), Israeli airlines such as El Al, Israir and Arkia have flying repatriation, especially from Europe and the United States. For safety reasons, these flights are performed during the day, as the country has been the target of nighttime nights with Iran.
Israel closed its airspace on June 13, when it gave an offensive against the Iranian nuclear program. The decision left about 40,000 foreign tourists retained in the country, with few output alternatives beyond the terrestrial borders with Egypt and Jordan or the sea – which remained open.
From this Monday (23.jun), the exit flights operate exclusively by Ben Gurion Airport Terminal 3. Access is restricted to passengers with valid tickets, exceptions only for companions of minors or people with special needs. Travelers were told to arrive at a maximum of two hours in advance, preferably using public transportation. Those who choose the private car can only make quick landings. According to the Israeli newspaper, the stores duty free They are closed, but cafes and snack bars are working.
The company El Al has announced flights to 8 destinations. While passengers who have had flights canceled after June 13 will be able to reschedule at no additional costs, for other cases, including tourists and medical or humanitarian emergency cases, the company has set specific tariffs: $ 99 for Lanaca, $ 149 for Athens and $ 299 for Rome, Paris and London. Flights for New York and Los Angeles have $ 795 fares. For Bangkok, $ 695.
Already the airline Arkia said it will perform 6 repatriation flights with destinations such as Lanaca, Athens, Vienna, Rome and Barcelona.
Also according to the new rules, those who purchase outward tickets from now on will only be able to buy the return with a minimum date of 30 days after boarding.
According to the Minister of Transport, tens of thousands of Israelis have already returned to the country by land, sea and air, with flights of repatriation. “But we estimate that there are still about 84,000 that we need to bring home”He said.
