In a significant development for the aviation industry, the Lufthansa Group has announced plans to resume its flight operations to Tel Aviv, starting January 8, 2024. This move marks a gradual restoration of the Group’s services to Israel, which had been suspended since October 9, 2023, due to security concerns.
Detailed Flight Schedule from Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich
Lufthansa Airlines is set to lead this initiative with a schedule of four weekly flights from Frankfurt and three from Munich. Complementing this, Austrian Airlines will operate eight weekly flights, while SWISS is slated to offer five. Collectively, the Lufthansa Group will thus provide 20 weekly connections to and from Tel Aviv, approximately 30 percent of their regular flight schedule to the region. All flights will utilize aircraft from the Airbus A320 family.
This revised schedule not only reinstates direct air travel to Israel but also ensures robust transfer connections via the hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich, particularly facilitating travel between Israel and North America.
Booking and Schedule Publication Set for Mid-December
Flight schedules will be made public on Monday, December 18, and reservations will be open from that date. The Lufthansa Group emphasizes that safety remains their paramount concern. They continue to closely monitor the security situation in Israel, maintaining active communication with local and international authorities. Due to the dynamic nature of the situation, adjustments to the flight schedule remain a possibility.
In related news, the Group has also resumed flights to Beirut, Lebanon, as of December 15, through Lufthansa, SWISS, and Eurowings.
Flights Remain a Fluid Situation
The resumption of flights to these regions is a positive sign, hinting at a gradual return to normalcy in travel commerce to Israel. While this development is indeed encouraging, it’s important to remain cognizant of the ongoing major conflict in the region. The progress of these airline operations over the coming months will be a crucial indicator of stability and security in the area, and will be closely observed by stakeholders and travelers alike.