ALBAWABA - According to a report by the Israeli Channel 12, several European airlines announced canceling flights to Israel amid the steep escalation with the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Wizz Air, British Airways, Azerbaijan Airlines, and LOT Airlines announced that they will be canceling flights to Israel today as Israel. Meanwhile, the aviation giant Lufthansa announced that it will not be renewing flights to Ben Gurion Airport before October 14.
Subsequently, Qatari national flag carrier, Qatar Airways, announced suspended flights to Beirut until Wednesday. "Due to the ongoing situation in Lebanon, Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport until September 25," the Qatari national carrier said in a statement.
Travel activity at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport has dropped significantly as a result of a major wave of Israeli bombings in Lebanon, according to Lebanese tourism data released on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.
"Fourteen airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon," said Jean Abboud, the director of Lebanon's Association of Travel and Tourist Agents, at a news conference in Beirut.
He said that passenger traffic at Rafik Hariri Airport had plummeted by 30-40%. Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon's national airline, is launching more flights to fill the gaps left by the absence of other carriers, he said.
The Israeli army said that it launched more than 300 air strikes in Lebanon since early morning, marking the heaviest bombardment since the onset of hostilities last 8 October.
According to the Health Ministry of Lebanon, at least 492 people, including 35 children, were killed in a day of relentless Israeli bombardment on the country. At least 1,645 people were injured.
In response, Lebanon's Hezbollah launched a barrage of missiles at Israeli air bases, while international leaders and the United Nations urged an immediate de-escalation. Turkey warned that Israel's onslaught on Lebanon might "drag the entire region into chaos".
