Air India cancels all flights to Israel's Tel Aviv till August 8

Air India announced on Friday the suspension of all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. This suspension is effective immediately and will last until August 8, 2024.

In an official statement, Air India said, "In view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have suspended scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect up to and including 08 August 2024." The airline emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to supporting passengers with confirmed bookings during this period by offering a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges.

Air India also provided customer care details for further assistance, stating, "Safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority. For more information, please call our 24/7 Contact Centre at 011-69329333 / 011-69329999."

The airline operates four weekly flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv. This suspension follows a significant escalation in the region, with dozens of rockets launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel late Thursday. This marks the first such attack since top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed by an Israeli strike earlier this week in Beirut.

According to Israel's public broadcaster, KAN, rockets were fired towards the Western Galilee, with 15 being intercepted by Israeli defenses. An Israeli army statement confirmed that five projectiles crossed from Lebanon into Israel, with some intercepted and others falling in open areas. No injuries were reported.