Italy’s ITA Airways announced on Saturday evening that it was canceling all flights to and from Israel through Monday, July 27, citing operational reasons amid escalating tensions with Iran and growing regional security concerns.
The move made ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, the first airline to announce cancellations following the latest escalation with Iran.
In an official statement, the airline said flights to and from Tel Aviv were being canceled for "operational reasons." It did not specify whether the cancellations resulted from new security directives, changes to flight-route planning, crew considerations, or its internal assessment of regional developments.
ITA Airways said it was continuously monitoring the situation and that passengers whose flights had been canceled or changed would receive updates through the company’s usual communication channels. Passengers were asked not to travel to the airport before checking the status of their flights.
The airline recommended that customers holding tickets for flights to or from Tel Aviv check its official website, review any notices sent to them, and contact customer service for further information and assistance.
Airlines monitoring Israeli security developments
The suspension currently applies through the end of Monday. The company did not say whether service would resume on Tuesday or whether the cancellations could be extended depending on developments.
The decision came as airlines closely monitored security developments in Israel and neighboring countries. Regional escalation can quickly affect civil aviation through airspace restrictions, longer flight routes, crew concerns about traveling to Israel, and difficulties maintaining regular schedules.
ITA Airways is among the European airlines connecting Israel with Italy and onward destinations across Europe. The cancellations could also affect passengers who planned to use Italian airports as transit points for connecting flights.