Posted on 07/22/2014 3:51:48 PM PDT by Star Traveler
European and US airlines suspend flights to and from Israel after rocket falls 5km from Ben Gurion; El Al has historically continued flight service during times of war. Israeli airline El Al said it would not cancel any flights as air travel to Israel from all American carriers and several European ones came to a halt on Tuesday after the Federal Aviation Authority banned US airlines from traveling to and from Ben Gurion Airport for 24 hours.
"There is no chance we will stop operations," an El Al spokesman told the Post.
In labor disputes with the government, El Al has argued that it is the only airline the country can rely on to continue flying during tough security times, and that Israel should foot more of the bill for its security needs. During the 1991 Gulf war, every airline but El Al suspended service to Israel.
The FAA's decision followed the successful firing of a Hamas rocket into a house in Yehud, near Ben Gurion Airport, earlier in the day.
"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, an FAA statement read.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Israel Transportation Minister: Cancellation of Flights to Israel Gives a ‘Prize to Terror’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3183687/posts
Israel’s Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said on Tuesday that the just announced cancellation of European and U.S. flights to Israel handed a victory to terrorism.
“There is no reason for the American companies to stop their flight and give a prize to terror,” Katz said, according to Jerusalem Post correspondent Niv Elis.
On Tuesday, four major U.S. airline carriers announced their decision to cancel flights heading to Israel indefinitely, one specifically citing the danger of Gaza rocket attacks near Israel’s Ben Gurion airport.
Shortly after the airlines announced their decision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it told all U.S. airlines that flights to the airport are prohibited for 24 hours, according to The Associated Press. German carrier Lufthansa nixed all flights to and from Tel Aviv for the next two days, according to an ABC News correspondent, and Air France also suspended its flights to Israel.
U.S. flight ban could be Hamas’ biggest success in latest clash with Israel
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3183630/posts
Several airlines already had suspended operations or diverted flights.
The ban comes less than a week after a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down over Ukraine. For Hamas, it could be the biggest break the Islamist group has had since the most recent fighting started — potentially increasing Israeli’s physical and psychological isolation from the rest of the world. The airport handles about 14 million travelers a year.
Smells like Obama.
Once again...The Terroristas win.
:-) El Al is the best..more expensive but worth it..you will never get on a safer airline than El Al
Dang man. I love Israel. The only sane country right now.
If you ever notice an El Al jet parked at any U.S. airport, you might notice they have around-the-clock armed security in place.
El Al is safer because, among other defensive measures, they have missile defense systems on their aircraft.
And we will too, sometime after the first American airliner is shot down.
Love it.
There is a difference between the leader of Israel and the leaders of the US and Europe.
Strong, fearless, determined versus the 1930’s whimps, whusses, cowards, yellow-bellies, spineless jellyfish.
Who would you want to be our leader today, Netanyahu or Obama/Kerry/Hagel, Merkel, Hollande?, etc.?
I will fly El Al when I go, I have been wanting to go
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I was just reading that four major USA airlines cancelled their flights to Israel - indefinitely - and before any order came out from the FAA. So I’m thinking that this action by those four major USA airlines pushed the FAA into acting. Of course I can’t be sure that it did, but those four major USA airlines did it on their own.
Aww. Don’t they understand? The only reason there are rockets landing near Ben Gurion is because the stubborn Jooos! won’t give back the entire West Bank for piece. If only they did, then the Mujaahidoon would be able to lob mortar shells at the airport from Itamar, thereby making funds available to feed poor hungry Palis via Hamas./s
I will fly El Al when I go, I have been wanting to go
ME TOO
If I were going to Israel, I would ;-).
Interesting ...
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