Following five months of suspended travel to the city of Tel Aviv due to the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, Air Canada says it is almost ready to resume direct flights ,
“We have always said we intend to resume service to TLV, and we are finalizing the logistics at this point for a potential resumption in April,” the airline reportedly said in a statement.
Passengers, affected by the suspension, flying to or from have been advised to use alternative routes including refunds, said the airline.
“We are monitoring this dynamic situation closely…in contact with the Canadian government…Air Canada will resume operations to Tel Aviv as soon as the situation stabilizes.”” the airline said in a statement on Saturday.
In the aftermath of Hamas’ attacks in Israel that left approximately 1,200 people dead, Canada’s flag carrier suspended service from oct 8, 2023.
Since then, Israel’s invasion of Gaza has left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead, according to the local health ministry. The fighting has continued ever since and a recent attempt at a second cease-fire failed.
At the time, the airline said it would resume operations to the city “as soon as the situation stabilizes.”
Less than a week before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Egyptian officials said that three days of negotiations with Hamas on March 5, over a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages failed to achieve a breakthrough.
The nearly five months of fighting left much of Gaza in ruins and created a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with many, especially in the devastated northern region, scrambling for food to survive.
“We must get more aid into Gaza,” U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday. “There’s no excuse. None.”
Passengers have been advised by Global Affairs Canada against non-essential travel to Israel.
Canadians are also being advised by Global Affairs Canada against all travel to the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and other borders in the county.
“Avoid non-essential travel to Israel due to the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation,” the federal agency’s website reads.
Although unclear when Air Canada will resume flights to Tel Aviv, however, the information about a direct flight to the city would reportedly be available on the airline’s website as soon as April 8.
