On Tuesday, Etihad Airways announced the cancellation of flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. Specifically, Flight EY595 from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) scheduled for August 6 was cancelled, along with its return flight, EY596 from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi on the same day. In a notice to passengers, the airline attributed the cancellations to 'operational reasons'. Travelers who had booked these flights are urged to verify their contact information on etihad.com/manage to receive the latest flight updates via SMS or email. For modifications to bookings or further inquiries, passengers are advised to reach out through the airline's local phone numbers, live chat, or social media platforms.
This development occurs amid rising regional tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, prompting several airlines to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace and cancel flights to Israel and Lebanon due to fears of a potential conflict following the deaths of senior Hamas and Hezbollah members. Etihad Airways emphasized that the safety and comfort of its passengers and crew are paramount, and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the disruptions to travel plans. Emirates' flights to Tel Aviv have been suspended since November 2023, with the airline previously announcing that customers with onward connections to Tel Aviv would not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice due to escalating tensions between Israel and Gaza.
