With the skies expected to remain closed as Iranian missiles continue to rain down, Israeli airlines have been gearing up to operate special flights to help tens of thousands of Israelis return home and others leave the country via land border crossings that have remained open.

Similarly to the last time the country’s airspace was closed, during the 12-day war with Iran in June, stranded Israelis and fleeing tourists have been taking to the sea, paying thousands of shekels to travel by private sailboats to and from Cyprus, to leave or come back home.

Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international gateway, has been closed for departures and arrivals since Saturday, when Israel and the US launched a major joint military strike on Iran. Since then, the Islamic Republic has been firing nonstop barrages of missiles and drones at Israel.

Israel’s airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir have all suspended flight operations through March 3, amid expectations that Ben Gurion Airport will not reopen before at least Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers with very few options of travel. Meanwhile, many foreign carriers, including the Lufthansa Group, Wizz Air, and ITA Airways, canceled all flight services to and from Israel through March 7.

Swiss-Israeli Elena Sale from Tel Aviv flew a week ago, with Lufthansa’s Swiss Air Lines to Zurich, to attend her sister’s wedding and was expected to return to the country Sunday.

“I haven’t been able to reschedule my flight back to Tel Aviv because they don’t have any flights planned, as everything is canceled until March 7,” Sale told The Times of Israel. “Right now it’s the weekend… but tomorrow I am expected to start working again.”

“I hope I can get back soon, but I don’t know how long it will take… I’m waiting until the airspace opens, and then I want to get a flight back as soon as possible,” Sale said.

The 26-year-old said that, once Israel’s airspace reopens, she is considering trying to get on an El Al flight, as Israeli airlines can be........

© The Times of Israel