ITA Airways, Austrian Airlines suspend Israel flights amid Iran tensions

Two European carriers announced Saturday that they are suspending flights to and from Israel as regional tensions with Iran continue to disrupt air travel, raising concerns that additional airlines could follow.

Italian carrier ITA Airways and Austrian Airlines, both part of the Lufthansa Group, cited security concerns for the suspensions. According to Israeli Channel 12, speaking with informed sources on condition of anonymity, crew members at both airlines are reportedly unwilling to fly to Israel because of the ongoing regional tensions.

ITA Airways said it would cancel flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport on Monday, July 27, citing "operational reasons." The airline has reportedly canceled all Ben Gurion flights until at least the middle of next week, with the possibility of further cancellations.

The carrier urged passengers to check the status of their flights before traveling to the airport and said it is continuously monitoring the security situation in the Middle East and will update its schedule accordingly.

Austrian Airlines also announced it would suspend flights to and from Israel over the same security concerns and reported reluctance among crew members to operate flights to the country.

It remains unclear whether additional Lufthansa Group carriers or other international airlines will also suspend service to Ben Gurion Airport.

The flight cancellations came a day after the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem warned American citizens to prepare for possible disruptions to air travel because of heightened regional tensions.

“Security Alert: Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex, with the potential for unforeseen escalation. U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution, stay alert, and be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and other travel disruptions,” the U.S. embassy in Israel wrote in a post on 𝕏.

Regional tensions have intensified following military clashes between the United States and Iran.

Acting on orders from U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. forces have in recent days struck Iranian targets after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran subsequently retaliated with missile strikes targeting U.S. military bases and several Arab countries, including Kuwait, Syria, and Jordan.

Although Iran has so far refrained from targeting Israel, Israeli authorities remain on high alert and are preparing for the possibility that Tehran could resume missile attacks.

The Israeli government has warned it would respond with overwhelming military force if Iran launches new missile strikes against Israel.

While Trump has indicated he prefers a diplomatic solution, he has not ruled out further large-scale strikes aimed at pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States informed Israel earlier this month that it planned to deploy additional aerial refueling aircraft to the country, assets that would support any future large-scale U.S. military operations against Iran.

Israel has backed the U.S. campaign, and the Israeli military has reportedly agreed to host American aircraft at Israeli Air Force bases.

However, Washington has indicated it would prefer to station the refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport because of its proximity to Tel Aviv and existing infrastructure.

Israel's Transportation Ministry has repeatedly warned that basing U.S. refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion could reduce available space for commercial aviation and lead to flight cancellations affecting tens of thousands of passengers.