Europe’s largest airline group has halted nearly all Israel-bound flights indefinitely after a missile strike near Tel Aviv, marking a stunning escalation in aviation risk across the Middle East.

At a Glance

• Lufthansa Group suspended all Israel routes following a Houthi missile strike on May 4, 2025
• Partial service resumed in August, but Eurowings remains grounded until at least October 25
• easyJet and Ryanair won’t fly to Israel before March 2026 and October 2025, respectively
• Security fears stem from Iran-linked militants targeting civilian infrastructure
• Israel’s aviation sector faces prolonged disruption and economic fallout

Missiles Over Tel Aviv Trigger Industry Retreat

The Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline conglomerate, ceased all Israel operations on May 4 after a Houthi missile landed near Ben Gurion International Airport. The Iranian-aligned group’s assault brought commercial aviation to a standstill in Israel’s airspace, triggering urgent risk assessments from global carriers.

The attack was more than symbolic—it targeted Israel’s largest airport during peak civilian traffic, exposing vulnerabilities in one of the region’s most critical logistical arteries. In response, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings halted all flights. The suspension instantly reduced travel options between Europe and Israel, impacting thousands of passengers and businesses.

Watch now: Missile Strike Near Tel Aviv Halts Flights

Patchy Return Leaves Gaping Holes

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines cautiously resumed Tel Aviv flights in August, but the group’s fragmented strategy revealed the volatility still gripping the region. Eurowings will remain suspended until at least October 25, with Swiss Airlines offering few details about its own plans.

This measured rollout illustrates the depth of concern among European airlines, who face unprecedented calculations in balancing profitability with crew safety. Each resumption requires comprehensive threat modeling, making it clear that full restoration of air services remains far off.

Competitor Carriers Stay Away

While some Lufthansa affiliates inch back into Israeli skies, others are in no rush. Low-cost titans like easyJet and Ryanair have delayed all Tel Aviv flights well into 2026 and late 2025, respectively. This extended isolation of Israel by European carriers amplifies the effects of the initial attack, giving militant groups a long-term strategic victory without further military engagement.

By contrast, United Airlines resumed service to Tel Aviv in July 2025, reflecting divergent confidence levels between U.S. and European operators regarding Israeli airspace security. The gap reveals both the geopolitical complexity and competitive distortions created by uneven risk tolerance.

Civilian Infrastructure as a Battlefield

The continuing airline suspensions function as a form of economic warfare, denying Israel the tourism and business connectivity essential to its financial vitality. The cost of rerouted or canceled travel now falls on consumers and companies alike, while terrorist organizations exploit the instability for political gain.

Rather than missiles aimed at military bases, these attacks strike airports, disrupt economies, and isolate communities. The Lufthansa Group’s strategic caution, while grounded in sound risk assessments, indirectly validates a new model of proxy aggression—one in which airlines become tools of indirect warfare, and passengers the collateral damage.

Sources

Lufthansa Group
Bloomberg
Reuters