In a blow to travelers ahead of the upcoming Passover holiday, Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia have had to cancel the vast majority of their regular flights planned through at least the end of March, as wartime airspace restrictions continue to limit operations at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Instead, local airlines will operate a restricted wartime flight schedule to a limited number of destinations in the US, Europe and the Far East.

Due to the security situation and current airspace restrictions, El Al and Israir have canceled their original flight schedule through March 27 and March 31, respectively. Arkia has canceled its regular flight schedule through March 28.

“Passover travel will be a last-minute decision-making, which may be impossible for people to understand, but that’s the reality in a war,” Mark Feldman, CEO of Ziontours Jerusalem, told The Times of Israel. “Right now, a minimal amount of flights to a minimal amount of destinations are operated with the minimal amount of people permitted.”

“Israeli airlines have canceled some 80% to 90% of their regular flight network and as of now,” said Feldman,

Israel’s airspace has been shut to most commercial traffic since February 28, when Israel launched joint attacks with the US on the Iranian regime. Earlier this month, Ben Gurion Airport gradually reopened for limited inbound and outbound flights, operated solely by Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa.

After slightly loosening limitations, late on Wednesday, the Transportation Ministry tightened restrictions to 130 passengers for outbound wide-body flights, after three private jets parked at Ben Gurion Airport were damaged........

© The Times of Israel