El Al will slash its flight operations after Israel’s Transportation Ministry sharply limited traffic at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, reducing the airline’s seat availability to about 5% of normal levels.
The restrictions were imposed on March 23, 2026, after a security assessment by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who said the reduction in takeoffs and landings was needed to ongoing attacks by Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Reuters reported that the decision came after two interception failures on March 21 during Iranian missile attacks, which caused damage and injuries in two towns in southern Israel.
Ben Gurion Airport is now limited to one inbound and one outbound flight per hour. Incoming flights are not subject to a passenger cap, but outbound flights are restricted to 50 passengers each, significantly reducing the airport’s ability to support normal airline schedules.
El Al said the restrictions effectively limit the carrier to essential flights only, with priority given to humanitarian and medical cases. The airline said it would continue serving a small group of key destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens.
The Israeli flag carrier has been operating repatriation flights since the outbreak of the US-Israel air war with Iran on February 28, 2026. In a statement, El Al called on authorities to open Ramon Airport near the Red Sea city of Eilat as a complementary alternative to Ben Gurion to preserve some international air service and provide another option for passengers. Ramon is located more than four hours by road from Tel Aviv and sits near Israel’s borders with Jordan and Egypt.
The operational squeeze is also forcing other Israeli airlines to shift flying outside the country’s main gateway. Arkia Airlines said it would move most of its operations to Aqaba, Jordan, and Taba, Egypt, including flights to New York, Bangkok, and Hanoi. Flights to and from Larnaca, Cyrus, and Athens, Greece, will remain at Ben Gurion.
Arkia Chief Executive Officer Oz Berlowitz said the current restrictions make regular aviation operations impossible and effectively amount to a closure of Israel’s skies.
