Virgin Atlantic Permanently Cancels Flights to Israel
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- British airline Virgin Atlantic has announced it will not resume direct flights to Israel. The company officially closed its London Heathrow–Tel Aviv route, Israeli media reported Monday.
Virgin said in a statement that the decision followed careful consideration and a thorough review.
The airline initially suspended flights after October 7, 2023, planning to resume operations in October 2025. Now, it has permanently canceled the route.
Virgin Atlantic emphasized that it would maintain its partnership with EL AL, Israel’s national carrier, for code-sharing flights between London and Tel Aviv. The airline first launched flights to Israel in September 2019.
Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines had announced they will not return to Israel.
Since Israel’s genocide in Gaza began, major airlines like United Airlines, Delta, Air France, and Lufthansa suspended their flights to Tel Aviv. Some have since resumed, but many foreign airlines remain absent.
Before October 7, about 150 airlines operated routes to and from the occupation state. Today, fewer than 20 foreign airlines continue service, according to Israeli reports. Bloomberg noted that Israel faces growing commercial isolation as many global airlines extend suspensions.
The Israeli aviation sector has been hit hard, losing key international connections to major cities worldwide.
On October 7, 2023, Israel started a genocide in Gaza, killing over 52,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 117,000 so far. Thousands remain missing under the rubble.
Despite mounting international condemnation, Israel faces little tangible pressure. The International Court of Justice is investigating Israel for genocide. Meanwhile, Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
