KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is resuming flights to Israel on Sunday, becoming the latest carrier to restore service to Tel Aviv following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June.
The move highlights both the resurgence of the Israeli aviation sector and the reemergence of Tel Aviv as an international travel hub.
The Dutch flag carrier is renewing daily flights to Israel from Amsterdam, although there will be a one-hour stopover in Larnaca, Cyprus, while service from Tel Aviv to Amsterdam will be direct.
International carriers planning to restore service to Israel next month include Air Canada, British Airways, Iberia and the German low-cost carrier Eurowings, with Italy’s ITA Airways scheduled to resume its flights to Tel Aviv in November.
The return to Israel of Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier, Irish Ryanair, tentatively scheduled for next month, is in doubt due to a dispute between the airline and the Israel Airports Authority over regaining its past flight slots.
Some 80,000 passengers were traveling through Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday on 470 international flights, according to the IAA.
