Israel’s flag carrier, El Al, is getting ready to operate flights from 22 destinations across Europe, the US, and Asia to repatriate tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad, as the country’s airspace is set to gradually reopen from next week.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev said on Monday that aviation authorities were preparing to reopen Israel’s airspace in a phased manner as early as Sunday, subject to security developments.

“I have instructed Civil Aviation Authority head Shmuel Zakay to meet with Israeli airlines so that they are prepared for the opening of the skies in a phased manner starting next week — all of this, of course, in accordance with security developments,” said Regev.

Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international gateway, has been shut for departures and arrivals since Saturday, when Israel and the US launched a major joint military strike on Iran and the Islamic Republic responded with barrages of missile fire. The airspace closure left more than 150,000 Israelis stranded abroad.

Once the country’s airspace gradually reopens, El Al plans to pick up Israelis from New York, Miami, and Los Angeles in the US; and Bangkok and Phuket in Southeast Asia. Across Europe, flights will be operated from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan, Paris, Budapest, Tbilisi, Sofia, Warsaw, Bucharest, Madrid, London, Barcelona, ​​Geneva, Amsterdam, Munich, and Zurich.

Repatriation flights for ticket holders of El Al and Sun Dor whose flights were canceled will be at no additional cost. Flights will be opened for sale to the general public only after all El Al and Sun Dor customers have been........

© The Times of Israel