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Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Israel launches airlift to bring home stranded citizens after Iran strike
TEL AVIV, Israel began flying home citizens stranded abroad on Wednesday, launching a phased airlift operation after the country's surprise military strike on Iran left tens of thousands of Israelis stuck overseas. The first rescue flight, operated by national carrier El Al, touched down at Ben Gurion Airport early Wednesday morning, bringing home passengers from Larnaca, Cyprus. Worldwide, Israel's transport ministry estimates that more than 50,000 stranded Israelis are trying to come home. El Al has said repatriation flights are already scheduled from Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris. Smaller rivals Arkia and Israir are also taking part in the operation. Iran arrests five for 'tarnishing' country's image: media 'We are preparing for the airlift to bring all Israelis home,' Transportation Minister Miri Regev told the captain of the arriving El Al flight before it landed, according to a statement released by the Israeli Aviation Authority. 'We are very emotional about receiving the first rescue flight as part of 'Safe Return'. Land safely,' she added. Tel Aviv's airport has been closed to passenger traffic since Israel launched its attack on Friday. The Airports Authority reinforced staffing on Wednesday to ensure the arriving passengers exited the airport quickly. They were shuttled to their parked vehicles or transported via train and bus to city centres nationwide. The operation is being carried out in stages, based on risk levels and security assessments, with an emphasis on the safety of passengers, flight crews, and aircraft, a spokesperson for the airports authority said. Relatives were advised to avoid travelling to airports for security reasons. Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since Friday, a large number of them targeting the Tel Aviv area. At least 24 people have died so far in the strikes. There are still be no passenger flights leaving Israel, meaning up to 40,000 tourists are stranded in the country. Iran says hypersonic missiles fired at Israel as Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights through to June 23. Large numbers of Israelis seeking to get home have converged on Cyprus, the European Union member state closest to Israel. Flights from the coastal city of Larnaca to Tel Aviv take 50 minutes. Nine flights were expected to depart Cyprus Wednesday for Haifa, and four for Tel Aviv, carrying about 1,000 people, sources in Cypriot airport operator Hermes said. Cruise operator Mano Maritime, whose 'Crown Iris' ship carries 2,000 passengers, has said it will make two crossings from Cyprus to Israel's Mediterranean port city of Haifa. Earlier on Wednesday, a cruise ship arrived in Cyprus carrying 1,500 participants to a Jewish heritage programme who had left Israel on Tuesday.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Airlines to bring stranded Israelis back home, no outward flights
Israel's flag carrier El Al expects to operate flights into Israel on June 18 from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris. PHOTO: REUTERS TEL AVIV - Israel's airlines said on June 17 that they had received government permission to start flights to bring back people who had been stranded abroad during the conflict with Iran. Israel's airspace has been closed since Israel and Iran began trading attacks on June 13, stranding tens of thousands whose flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled. El Al Airlines, Israel's flag carrier, said it expects to operate flights on June 18 from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris to bring anyone who had a cancelled El Al ticket to Israel. There would still be no passenger flights leaving Israel, it added. El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights through June 23. 'We understand the difficulty, uncertainty and stress experienced by El Al customers abroad who are seeking to return to Israel, as well as those whose travel plans were disrupted,' it said. "The rescue flights will be operated gradually, and therefore patience is required from El Al customers abroad. We recommend preparing for extended stays and lodging arrangements." Smaller rival Arkia said it would bring back Israelis from Karpathos in Greece, Larnaca in Cyprus and Tivat in Montenegro. 'Arkia is prepared to operate during any time window approved by the security authorities, including Fridays and Saturdays, and is working with authorities to explore expanding the rescue operation,' it said. Israir said it would operate three flights for Israelis from Larnaca and Athens and from Varna in Bulgaria on June 18, and hoped to offer more soon. It has cancelled both foreign and domestic flights up to June 30. Israel's Transportation Ministry has said there are as many as 150,000 Israelis abroad, around 50,000 of them seeking to return to Israel. El Al said that within 90 minutes of opening a portal for passengers seeking to fly home, more than 60,000 people joined an electronic queue to register. Cruise operator Mano Maritime, whose 'Crown Iris' ship carries 2,000 passengers, said it would make two crossings from Cyprus to Israel's Mediterranean port city of Haifa. Large numbers have converged on Cyprus, the European Union member state closest to Israel. Flights from the coastal city of Larnaca to Tel Aviv take 50 minutes, and boat crossings to the Haifa take about 15 hours. Foreign carriers have often cancelled flights during Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza, leaving El Al, Arkia and Israir to fill the gap for travellers. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
