[Tzfat]

The FAA does not use NOTAMS to prohibit flights over various international routes. The reason they are called "Notices to Airman" is that they are "be careful, or be aware" notices. The way the FAA did this today is extremely political. Because they do not have the authority to close a route that is established by multilateral agreements between countries - they simply made it against the law for U.S. certificated airmen from operating in Israeli airspace. As well they did the same for U.S. registered aircraft.

In other words, the United State Federal Aviation Agency just created prohibited airspace for US pilots and aircraft around a sovereign nation. This really is unprecedented. For example, no such rule applies to Somalia or Cuba. Even the EU Aviation Safety Agency did not do this. They did what the FAA normally does: issue a strong caution - but not prohibition. That is what is weird, and makes this a completely political decision.

[Star Traveler]

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.