The Lufthansa Group that includes the Belgian airline Brussels Airlines has announced that it is to prolong its suspension of flights to and from the Israeli city of Tel Aviv until 12 August. Initially Lufthansa Group had suspended services to Israel until 8 August. It did so due to the heightened tension in the Middle East.
On Monday morning Brussels Airlines announced that it will not be flying to or from Tel Aviv until next Monday (12 August) at the earliest. Passengers booked on one of the cancelled flights will be given the option to either rebook for a flight at a later date or have their ticket refunded.
In a statement Brussels Airlines said "We continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and we remain in contact with authorities there to see when flights can be resumed. Safety and security will always be top priority”.
Brussels Airlines flies to and from Tel Aviv five times a week. Its sister arlines Lufthansa and Swiss are also cancelling their flights to the Israeli city.
Lebanon and Iran
Last week, bombings took place in Lebanon and Iran, killing a leader of the Iran-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah and the Hamas leader Ismail Haniya. The attacks raise fears of a further escalation of violence in the Middle East.
Previously, Lufthansa cancelled its flights to the Lebanese capital Beirut after a rocket attack attributed to Hezbollah killed 12 young people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Transavia and Air France have also suspended flights to Beirut.