Posted on 07/22/2014 11:37:42 AM PDT by Nachum
Delta said it suspended service to and from its New York JFK hub "until further notice," while the Israel Airports Authority would only confirm that the carriers had suspended flight scheduled for Monday. US Airways has not yet released a statement.There is an answer, but so far only El Al has bought into it. American Airlines (which recently merged with USAir) decided six years ago that the solution was too expensive.United announced it was also suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.
Transportation Minister called on American aviation companies to return to normal functioning, stressing that Ben-Gurion airport was safe from for take-offs and landings, and that there was no security concern for passenger planes."There is no reason for the American companies to stop their flight and give a prize to terror," he said.
Though media had reported that the US Federal Aviation Authority had ordered the cancellations, it did not issue any new guidance on flying through the region. The airline companies had acted on their own authority.
An order from the FAA could have had far greater repercussions for Israel's economy.
"As soon as the FAA gives such an order to US carriers, in most cases it's a domino effect, and most European carriers will be forced to suspend their flights," said an industry source.Regardless, the source added, "This is a huge coup for Hamas."
Tourism accounts for about 5% of Israel's exports, and has already declined as a result of the rocket fire from Gaza.
According to Channel 2, Israeli and American flight officials are reportedly trying to come to an understanding regarding the US concerns over rocket fire.
Israel contends that the Iron Dome rocket defense system, which has proven to be 90% effective during Operation Protective Edge, is also capable of intercepting projectiles in the area of Ben-Gurion Airport.
The rocket which landed in the courtyard of a home in Yehud on Tuesday, causing damage and leaving two people lightly injured, marked the first direct hit in the greater Tel Aviv area since the Gaza operation began more than two weeks ago.
"The FAA immediately notified US carriers when the agency learned of the rocket strike and informed them that the agency was finalizing a [Notice to Airmen]" prohibiting the flights.The US issued a travel warning against traveling to Israel or Gaza this morning. Nevertheless, over 200 North American immigrants arrived here today....
Delta diverted flight 468 from JFK with 273 passengers and 17 crew, Paris-Charles de Gaulle "after reports of a rocket or associated debris near the airport in Tel Aviv," and said that it was working to re-accommodate its customers.
While the FAA does not have jurisdiction over European or other international air carriers, the decision may lead to other cancellations.
"As soon as the FAA gives such an order to US carriers, in most cases it's a domino effect, and most European carriers will be forced to suspend their flights," said an industry source. "This is a huge coup for Hamas."
Air France suspended all flights to and from Israel due to "security reasons linked to the evolution of the local situation," Reuters quoted an airline spokesman as saying.
Lufthansa, Swiss Air, and KLM also suspended flights to Ben Gurion.
Let's all do exceptionally stupid things.
Blame lawyers, they know if anything happens the lawsuits will fly right and left.
And rightfully so ... I would be running for a lawyer too, if one of my family was killed by the negligence of an airline!
Thanks for the common sense. It used to be common here
I wonder if the US government appreciates the irony of this. They ignore the daily shelling and rocket attacks that Israelis have to put up with and continue to tell Israel to negotiate and not retaliate. Then when a rocket lands near the airport, the FAA bans travel. Are the Hamas rockets a danger or not? Make up your mind.
“It’s more like not wanting another “Ukraine””
The separatists had downs quite a few Ukrainian Air Force planes before the disaster with the airliner. They hit at least one transport, a fighter, a couple helicopters. that was an obvious active air war. How many IAF planes have Hamas taken down? I didn’t hear of any. So are we saying that IAF is “just that good” or that Hamas hasn’t deployed any air defense weapons? The chances that Hamas would take down an airliner are mo more today than any day since Obama gave them all those stingers.
ElAl 777 inbound from Heathrow now. Appears to be only traffic from Europe at this moment.
Nice. You are a speed thinker and probably quite correct!
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It should be noted there have been rumored attempts at blinding pilots emanating from the West Bank.
can you fly to London and then book a flight to Israel on El Al who has the rocket detector?
Tend to agree, due to the absolute zero chance of a rocket hitting an aircraft. Obama and Kerry have their apartheid rally caps on right now.
Yes. El Al flights are always full. Perhaps they will lease some more aircraft now...
Sure.
“Is this actually a global Israeli boycott?”
My exact first thought also...but in reality, it is a continuation of the BDS boycott the Obama adm and Kerry instigated against Israel months ago. No doubt Kerry had a hand in this little maneuver also.
I appreciate the liability argument, but this ban is meant to punish Israel. Israel will be undeterred in what it needs to do to establish safety for its citizens.
That’s what happens when you get a disaster in one area ... it causes people to be cautious elsewhere.
Then shut down flights to El Paso. The Zetas have lots of old Mexican Army weapons maybe they have some stingers.
Have they been shot off in the vicinity of an airport?
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