Israel’s major airlines are sharply reducing flight operations as new wartime restrictions take effect at Ben Gurion Airport.

Under Transportation Ministry orders limiting traffic to one flight per hour, departures have been capped at about 15 flights per day, with a maximum of 50 passengers per flight.

El Al said it is shifting to “essential flight activity only,” operating limited routes to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. Passenger priority will be given based on original booking dates, with preference for humanitarian and medical cases.

Israir also announced a reduced schedule, operating flights only to Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Tbilisi, and Addis Ababa, which will serve as hubs for onward travel.

The airlines say the restrictions have significantly reduced capacity, leaving thousands of passengers competing for limited seats.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)