Airlines Suspend Flights to Israel After Houthi Missile Strike

A ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, prompting immediate suspension of all takeoffs and landings and causing widespread flight cancellations by major international airlines, including Lufthansa Group, Air France, Air Europa, Swiss, Austrian, Wizz Air, United, Delta, Air Canada, Japan’s Nippon Airways, British Airways, and Transavia. Some flights already en route to Israel diverted or returned to their points of origin, while others delayed departures pending further safety assessments. Although Ben Gurion Airport resumed operations after a short closure, multiple airlines extended their flight suspensions for 24 to 48 hours as they continued monitoring the situation. The incident exposed serious vulnerabilities in Israel’s missile defense systems, as the missile was not intercepted, raising concerns about the safety of the country's main international transportation hub. Despite the disruption, Israeli airline stocks, particularly El Al, saw a notable rise amid expectations of reduced competition and potential fare increases. Neither the US nor European aviation authorities have yet issued warnings against flying to Israel, but further cancellations are anticipated if official advisories are released.