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3d ago

Israel Restarts Limited Flights as Ben Gurion Reopens, Outbound Travel Targeted for Sunday

Officials are balancing a mass return effort with tight security rules that keep schedules contingent on continuing missile threats.

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An Israeli soldier greets loved ones who returned to Israel from Italy on one of the first flights since Israel's airspace reopened, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, at Ben Gurion International airport in Lod, Israel, March 5, 2026. Government Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
El Al flights airlines
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Overview

  • First rescue arrivals touched down in Tel Aviv on Thursday, with El Al from Athens and Israir from Rome, while regular commercial traffic remains paused.
  • Transportation Minister Miri Regev said departures are planned to resume Sunday, subject to real-time security assessments.
  • Ben Gurion said initial outbound flights will be capped at 50 passengers per aircraft, and Reuters reported just one inbound landing per hour due to ongoing threats.
  • Channel 12 reported additional temporary rules for departures beginning Sunday, including one flight per hour, no checked baggage, early check-in and no escorts in the terminal.
  • More than 20,000 Israelis have returned so far and roughly 120,000 seek to come home, with authorities estimating a 7–10 day repatriation window and capacity of 8,000–9,000 passengers per business day; Iran’s Guards claimed missiles targeted the airport and one El Al jet executed a go‑around.