El Al boosts flights to return stranded passengers after Iran-Israel ceasefire
By Steven Scheer
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -El Al Israel Airlines is working on an airlift to bring back to Israel tens of thousands of travellers stranded by widespread flight cancellations following the start of the Israel-Iran war on June 13, it said on Tuesday.
El Al, Israel's flag carrier, said that in the wake of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after 12 days of fighting and with the gradual opening of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, it would boost its schedule, use its full fleet and add thousands of seats in the next 24 hours.
The airline - which has cancelled regular flights through June 27 - said it would operate one-way flights from New York, Los Angeles, Bangkok, London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Budapest, Bucharest and Tbilisi.
For nearly two weeks, Israel's airspace has largely been closed as Israel and Iran traded air attacks, but Israeli carriers have, in recent days, begun rescue flights to return travellers to Israel.
Flight frequencies increased on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran but Israel has yet to fully open its airspace.
El Al's fleet comprises Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737 aircraft.
Israel's Airports Authority earlier in the day said it was working towards a gradual return to routine operations in the coming hours, and that it was coordinating with all airlines and operational partners at Israel's airports "to ensure an orderly and safe process for passengers."
Smaller Israeli carriers were also operating rescue flights. Arkia Airlines said it was bringing passengers back from Milan, Athens, Vienna and Larnaca in Cyprus.
Israir said it would operate flights from Varna, Bulgaria on Wednesday and Baku on Friday.
Israel was also working on enabling nearly 40,000 tourists to leave Israel. Many have left via border crossings with Egypt and Jordan, as well as on boats to Cyprus.
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