Difficulties Mount as Flight Reductions Impede Israel Departures

Getting direct flights from Israel to the UK has become increasingly difficult as more airlines cancel flights following the recent attacks by Hamas. Currently, Virgin Atlantic operates one flight to and from Tel Aviv a day instead of their usual two, while British Airways continues to operate one round trip. However, several airlines, including EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air France, Lufthansa, and Emirates, have suspended all flights to the UK. The remaining flights that are operating are fully booked, making it challenging to find available tickets. For instance, the earliest British Airways flight to the UK is on Sunday 15 October, with a one-way ticket costing over £1,300. Both Virgin Atlantic and El Al, Israel's national carrier, have no availability on their UK-bound services until next week. Flightradar24, a flight tracking website, stated that many airlines have canceled flights due to safety concerns. However, the airspace over Israel is still open, and the decision to operate flights to Tel Aviv lies with individual airlines. The UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, is urging UK citizens in Israel to use commercial transport for their return, as there are no government evacuation plans currently in place. The Foreign Office advises against all non-essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While communicating with the public, Cleverly mentioned that there are still air and land routes available for those seeking to leave Israel, such as flights to friendly nations like Egypt and Jordan. Numerous airlines have introduced flexible booking policies, allowing customers to change their travel dates for free. When asked if the government's stance on not facilitating an evacuation from Israel could change, Cleverly stated that the situation in Israel is rapidly changing, and he cannot speculate on future developments. Readers are invited to share their travel experiences and concerns related to events in the Middle East by contacting haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Providing a contact number is encouraged for those willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Alternatively, individuals can email their questions or comments to HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk, including their name, age, and location with each submission.