The recent wave of protests in Israel has had a significant impact on air travel in and out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
According to data from Cirium, a leading provider of aviation data and analytics, approximately 10% of flights were cancelled during the protests, resulting in a total of 19 departures being grounded and 23 arrivals being diverted.
Among the airlines most significantly affected by the cancellations was Wizz Air.
Of their total 30 flights scheduled for the day, 33% of departures and 46.8% of arrivals were cancelled.
This is a substantial disruption for the Hungarian low-cost airline, which operates flights to and from Tel Aviv as part of its network.
Israel’s national carrier, El Al, appeared to weather the storm better than most, with only four cancellations out of 118 scheduled flights.
This is a testament to the resilience of the airline and its staff, who were able to keep operations running smoothly despite the tumultuous circumstances.
Other carriers that saw significant cancellation rates for Tel Aviv arrivals included Ryanair, Austrian Airways, Brussels Airlines, and Emirates.
All of these airlines had cancellation rates over 25%, indicating the extent to which the protests disrupted air travel in and out of Tel Aviv.
The cancellations and diversions at Ben Gurion International Airport are a stark reminder of the impact that political unrest can have on air travel.
While the protests have since subsided, the experience serves as a cautionary tale for airlines and passengers alike, highlighting the need to stay informed and prepared in the face of unexpected disruptions.
Despite the challenges, however, it is heartening to see that some airlines, such as El Al, were able to maintain a relatively normal schedule in the midst of the chaos.
This demonstrates the value of contingency planning and the importance of having a robust response to unforeseen events.
