Israel Matzav

FAA lifts flight ban

The US Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its ban on flights to Israel in response to 'increased security measures' undertaken by the IDF.

The decision to cancel the flight restrictions came after "working with its US government counterparts to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewing both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation," the FAA said in a statement released Thursday morning.

With the exception of British Airways, which continued flying to and from Israel, most major European carriers, including Lufthansa and Air France, also suspended their flights Tuesday. On Wednesday Lufthansa said it would suspend flights – including its affiliates Germanwings, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines – for another 24 hours as well.

Prime Minister Netanyahu had raised the ban with US Secretary of State John FN Kerry on Wednesday after Kerry's arrival in Israel was derided on social media as proof that the airport is safe.

But Arutz Sheva reports that the lifting of the ban came with a warning. 

The US national aviation authority has lifted a ban on American flights to Israel, but warned of a "very fluid situation" amid intense fighting with Palestinians in nearby Gaza, AFP reports Thursday.

"The FAA has lifted its restrictions on US airline flights into and out of Israel's Ben Gurion Airport by canceling a Notice to Airmen it renewed earlier today," the Federal Administration Agency said in a statement.

...

Before making its decision, the FAA said it worked with US government officials to evaluate the security situation in Israel and "carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation."

It did not, however, indicate what the new information might entail.

I suspect strongly that the 'new information' is that on Wednesday, Israel destroyed the rocket launchers that were being used to target Ben Gurion Airport. I didn't hear or read that anywhere and I have no source for it. It's just my speculation.

Labels: Ben Gurion Airport, Gaza, Hamas rockets, Operation Protective Edge

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:47 AM