The Ministry of Transportation announced that Ben Gurion Airport will continue to operate for all international companies, but added that companies that are hesitant to land there will be able to do so alternatively at the airport in Ovda in the Negev.
Israeli aviation officials who gathered this morning (Wednesday) to assess the situation are informing representatives of foreign airlines in Israel of the decision, but so far not a single airline has responded.
Meanwhile, following a decision by international airlines to stop their flights to Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli companies are increasing their activity in order to help thousands of Israelis stranded abroad return to Israel.
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As of yesterday at 6:00 PM, approximately 80 flights to Israel have been canceled, and as of this morning, thousands of Israelis are stranded abroad, and thousands more remain stranded in Israel.
""Israeli aviation will continue as normal," Transportation Minister Israel Katz said today. "There is no political decision here, all foreign companies followed the US decision. We made it clear to all parties that there was no reason to cancel the flights.".
Meanwhile, the one who decided to show solidarity with Israel is former New York Mayor, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who decided to fly to Israel despite the travel warning issued by the US government. Bloomberg called on the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to immediately reverse its decision to suspend flights by all US airlines to Israel, due to concerns that rockets launched by Hamas would hit Ben Gurion Airport.
""Tonight I am flying to Tel Aviv on El Al to show solidarity with the Israeli people and show that it is safe to fly to Israel," Bloomberg tweeted yesterday. "Ben Gurion Airport is the safest airport in the world.".
