AEGEAN Airlines Restarts Athens–Tel Aviv Today: First Major European Carrier to Resume Israel Flights Since the Iran War Began February 28 — Full Schedule, What It Means for UK, US & Australian Passengers, and the Complete 2026 Israel Flight Recovery Guide

Breaking: Today, April 28, 2026, AEGEAN Airlines operates the first Athens–Tel Aviv flight since the Iran war grounded all foreign airline services to Israel 59 days ago. This is the first major European carrier to resume scheduled service on the Greece–Israel corridor — and it is a signal that the long freeze on Middle East aviation is, finally and carefully, beginning to thaw. When the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran began on February 28, 2026, Israel’s airspace closed to most commercial traffic overnight. Foreign airlines cancelled every service to and from Ben Gurion Airport. Fares on the few remaining El Al and Arkia flights to New York skyrocketed past $2,000. The entire European airline network that previously connected dozens of cities to Tel Aviv went dark. Today, AEGEAN becomes the first European airline with a normal, scheduled, non-Israeli-owned service to operate that corridor again. It will not be the last — but it is the first. Here is the full picture: AEGEAN’s restart schedule, Ben Gurion Airport’s current status, who is and isn’t flying to Israel today, what fares look like, and what UK, US, Australian, and Canadian passengers with Israel travel plans must know.

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Published: April 28, 2026 — Tuesday
AEGEAN’s Restart Today: Athens (ATH) → Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV) — scheduled service resumes April 28
Route suspended since: February 28, 2026 — 59 days of suspension
Significance: First major European carrier to operate a scheduled non-Israeli-owned Israel route since the Iran war began
Aircraft: Airbus A320 family (AEGEAN standard fleet)
Alliance: Star Alliance member
Book: aegeanair.com
Full AEGEAN Restart Schedule:

• Athens → Tel Aviv: April 28 (TODAY) ✅
• Heraklion → Tel Aviv: April 30 (2 days)
• Larnaca → Tel Aviv: May 21
• Rhodes → Tel Aviv: May 21
• Athens → Riyadh: May 21
• Athens → Amman: May 21 Ben Gurion Airport status: Fully open since April 9, 2026 — all terminals operational, duty-free and services resumed Carriers flying to Israel today: El Al (expanded) · Arkia · Israir · Etihad · Ethiopian · Hainan · Bluebird · TUS Airways · Smartwings · Wizz Air · AEGEAN (from today) Major carriers NOT yet flying: British Airways (July 1) · United Airlines (September 7) · Air Canada (September 7) · Delta (September 5) · Lufthansa (August 1) Fares: New York–Tel Aviv El Al economy from $2,000+ · Athens–Tel Aviv now available to book from ~$600 · London–Tel Aviv over $800

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What Happened: 59 Days That Grounded Israel’s Aviation

On February 28, 2026, everything changed. The US-Israel military campaign against Iran began — and within hours, Israel’s airspace closed to most commercial traffic. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), advising airlines to avoid Israeli airspace. Foreign carriers — every single one — cancelled their services to Tel Aviv. El Al, Arkia, and Israir pivoted to emergency repatriation schedules, operating dramatically reduced flights focused on getting stranded passengers home.

The scale of the disruption was historic. Over the past two and a half years, Israeli travelers had grown used to expensive tickets due to foreign airlines repeatedly suspending services. Now fares on El Al and Arkia to New York skyrocketed to over $2,000 in August — compared with under $1,200 six months earlier. Tickets to nearby Athens reached $600, and to London and Paris over $800.

Israel’s airspace was shut to most commercial traffic, including foreign airlines, from February 28 through early April — a period of over 40 days. For the passengers who needed to reach Israel or leave during those 59 days, the options were brutally limited: El Al’s emergency schedule at emergency prices, or alternative routing through Amman or Cairo.

The ceasefire and Ben Gurion’s reopening: Ben Gurion Airport fully reopened at midnight on April 8–9, 2026, following the ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel and Iran. The Transportation Ministry issued a formal announcement to foreign airlines and aviation regulators confirming the return to normal flight operations. Duty-free shops and all terminal services resumed.

But the airport reopening was only the beginning. Foreign airlines still needed clearance from their own regulators before rebuilding regular service. EASA’s CZIB remained in effect, advising European airlines to avoid Israeli airspace until April 24. The result: even as Ben Gurion reopened its gates, the great majority of European airlines stayed away.

That cautious, phased recovery is precisely where AEGEAN’s April 28 restart fits — and why it matters.

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Why AEGEAN Is the First — And What That Means

AEGEAN Airlines is Greece’s largest carrier and a Star Alliance member. Its decision to restart Athens–Tel Aviv today on April 28 — four days after EASA’s April 24 CZIB deadline passed — reflects a careful, deliberate assessment of current conditions that other major European carriers have not yet made.

According to AEGEAN’s official statement, the decision was made after a careful evaluation of the current situation, with AEGEAN restarting flights that had been suspended for safety and operational management reasons. The most significant development concerns the Israel network, with Athens–Tel Aviv restarting from April 28, followed by Heraklion from April 30. In a second phase from May 21, flights from Larnaca and Rhodes to Tel Aviv will resume, further strengthening the connection of the Israeli market with key destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. In parallel, from May 21, Athens–Riyadh and Athens–Amman will also restart.

AEGEAN maintains a clearly cautious stance, clarifying it is constantly monitoring conditions and will provide further updates regarding additional flights. This reflects the general picture prevailing in the regional aviation market: there is a desire to restart, but with cautious steps, continuous risk assessment, and high dependence on geopolitical developments.

Why AEGEAN moves before British Airways, Lufthansa, and United: The answer is geography and route exposure. Athens is 1,295 km from Tel Aviv — a short 2-hour flight, almost entirely over sea. The routing does not pass over Iranian airspace, Iraqi airspace, or any of the conflict zones that concern long-haul carriers routing through the broader Middle East corridor. AEGEAN’s Athens–Tel Aviv service is, from an airspace safety perspective, one of the least complex Israel routes in the European network to restart. A long-haul carrier routing London–Tel Aviv or Frankfurt–Tel Aviv must transit through more sensitive airspace — which explains why those carriers are waiting until July or later.

The signal AEGEAN’s restart sends: Every major airline’s risk and operations team is watching AEGEAN’s April 28 restart closely. If the route operates normally — no security incidents, no airspace closures, no insurance complications — it strengthens the case for the next wave of European restarters. AEGEAN’s decision to restart is a reflection of improved conditions, allowing it to re-establish connections to Tel Aviv, Riyadh, and Amman.

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📊 AEGEAN’s Complete Middle East Restart Schedule

What remains suspended: AEGEAN has not yet confirmed restart dates for Beirut, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Jeddah, or Erbil — all of which were suspended from February 28. These routes face more complex airspace considerations than the Israel and Jordan services.

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📊 The Complete Picture: Who Is and Isn’t Flying to Israel Today

This is the most important table for any passenger planning Israel travel in 2026:

✅ FLYING TO ISRAEL NOW (as of April 28, 2026)

❌ STILL SUSPENDED — KEY DATES

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🇬🇧 UK Passengers — Getting to Israel Today

If you are a British passenger planning travel to Israel, this is the hardest-affected group in the current recovery phase. British Airways has extended its suspension to July 1, 2026 — meaning there is no direct London–Tel Aviv service for the next two months.

Your options for UK passengers right now:

Option 1 — El Al via direct or connection: El Al operates London Heathrow–Tel Aviv services and has expanded its London schedule to absorb displaced BA passengers. Fares are elevated — tickets to London are priced over $800 depending on dates — but El Al is the most direct option for UK travelers. Book at elal.com.

Option 2 — AEGEAN via Athens (from today): London → Athens is a 3.5-hour flight served by easyJet, British Airways, and AEGEAN itself. From Athens, AEGEAN’s reinstated Tel Aviv service departs today. Athens is an efficient connecting hub — the layover at Athens International Airport is manageable and the airport’s Star Alliance lounge is available for AEGEAN’s premium passengers. Total journey time: approximately 7–8 hours London to Tel Aviv with a connection. This routing costs significantly less than El Al direct on most dates.

Option 3 — Wizz Air via Budapest: Wizz Air resumed Tel Aviv flights from April 25. London–Budapest is a 2.5-hour flight on multiple carriers. Budapest–Tel Aviv connects onwards. Wizz Air’s fares are competitive, though the airline’s passenger rights provisions are less comprehensive than full-service carriers.

Option 4 — Wait for BA to return July 1: British Airways’ July 1 return to Tel Aviv will restore direct non-stop service. If your travel is flexible and you are not urgently needed in Israel, waiting for the BA restart is the most straightforward option. BA’s fare levels will moderate significantly once direct competition returns to the route.

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🇺🇸 US Passengers — Getting to Israel Today

The United States has the most constrained Israel flight options of any major Tier 1 country right now. United Airlines suspended until September 7, 2026. Air Canada suspended until September 7. Delta cancelled through September 5. American Airlines — status unclear.

El Al is currently the only carrier operating direct New York–Tel Aviv service. El Al economy fares to New York in August have reached over $2,000 — compared with under $1,200 before the war. El Al has capped its own fares in economy and premium economy to prevent price gouging, but the monopoly pricing pressure is real.

For US passengers, the most realistic options today:

Option 1 — El Al direct from New York, Miami, Los Angeles: El Al operates direct services from JFK/EWR (New York), MIA (Miami), LAX (Los Angeles), and is adding Boston from April 19. Book at elal.com — fares are elevated but capped. El Al’s product and service have improved significantly in recent years.

Option 2 — Connect via Athens on AEGEAN (from today): New York → Athens is served daily by Delta, United, American, and Olympic Air. From Athens today, AEGEAN restarts Tel Aviv service. This creates a viable alternative: fly to Athens on a US carrier earning miles, connect on AEGEAN to Tel Aviv. Journey time is longer than a direct flight but the fare combination may be significantly cheaper than El Al peak pricing. Star Alliance partners can earn miles on the AEGEAN connection.

Option 3 — Connect via Etihad through Abu Dhabi: Etihad is operating 2 daily Abu Dhabi–Tel Aviv flights from April 15. New York–Abu Dhabi on Etihad, then Abu Dhabi–Tel Aviv, creates a single-ticket option earning Etihad Guest miles throughout. Travel time is longer (routing east rather than northeast) but the product is excellent and fares are more competitive than El Al’s peak monopoly pricing.

The honest advice for US passengers: If you have flexible travel dates and your Israel trip is not urgently time-sensitive, waiting for United’s September 7 return or Delta’s September 5 return will deliver significantly better fares and more straightforward routing. If you need to travel now, El Al direct or the Athens connection via AEGEAN are your best options.

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🇦🇺 Australian Passengers — Getting to Israel in 2026

Australian passengers face the most complex Israel routing of any of the four Tier 1 countries. Qantas does not operate a direct Australia–Israel service. The normal routing — Sydney or Melbourne via Singapore, Dubai, or Bangkok to Tel Aviv — has been severely disrupted by the dual closures of Dubai foreign carrier services and Middle East airspace instability.

Today’s viable routing options for Australian passengers:

Option 1 — Via Singapore on Singapore Airlines then El Al: Singapore Airlines now connects to Ben Gurion via a codeshare arrangement with El Al. SYD/MEL → SIN → TLV on a combination ticket. Singapore–Tel Aviv is approximately 9 hours. This is the cleanest Australia–Israel routing currently available.

Option 2 — Via Athens on Qantas/Singapore Airlines then AEGEAN: SYD/MEL → ATH (via Singapore or a European hub) → TLV on AEGEAN from today. The Athens–Tel Aviv leg is only 2 hours, making it an efficient final segment after a long-haul journey from Australia.

Option 3 — Via Etihad through Abu Dhabi: Qantas codeshares with Etihad on the Australia–Abu Dhabi sector. Australia → Abu Dhabi → Tel Aviv (2 daily from April 15) creates a viable, single-alliance option. The connection in Abu Dhabi is straightforward and Etihad’s terminal at AUH is efficient.

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What Fares Look Like Right Now — And When They’ll Normalise

The fare picture for Israel flights in 2026 is stark. Fares on El Al New York–Tel Aviv in August are priced at over $2,000 in economy — roughly 67% higher than the same period in 2025 at around $1,300. Tickets to nearby Athens are around $600, and to London and Paris over $800.

The fare elevation is a direct consequence of the monopoly conditions that now exist on most major Israel corridors. When El Al and Arkia are the only carriers on the New York–Tel Aviv route, they face zero competitive pricing pressure. Every additional airline that returns — AEGEAN today, Wizz Air last week, BA on July 1 — incrementally restores competition and puts downward pressure on fares.

The fare normalisation timeline:

The bottom line on fares: If you can wait until September for US travel or July for UK travel, fares will be meaningfully lower as major carriers return. If you need to travel now, plan to pay the premium — or route via Athens and benefit from AEGEAN’s reintroduced Athens–Tel Aviv competition.

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Ben Gurion Airport — Current Status

Ben Gurion Airport fully reopened at midnight on April 8–9, 2026 following the ceasefire. Duty-free shops and all terminal services have resumed. A formal announcement has been issued to foreign airlines and leading regulators regarding the return to normal flight operations.

What passengers arriving at Ben Gurion today will find:

✅ All terminals operating normally
✅ Duty-free shops, restaurants, and all airport services open
✅ Security procedures unchanged — Ben Gurion’s security is considered among the most thorough in the world; allow extra time (recommended: 3 hours before departure for international flights)
✅ Fast-track immigration available for priority passengers
✅ Arrivals hall and ground transportation operating normally
✅ Rental cars, taxis, and the Yitzhak Navon express train to Jerusalem all operational

The one practical tip for arriving passengers today: While Ben Gurion is operating normally, flight frequency is still significantly below pre-war levels on most routes. If you miss your outbound connection for any reason, alternative options may not be available for 24 hours or more on some routes. Build extra buffer into your itinerary and ensure your travel insurance covers flight disruption specifically in Israel.

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What This Means for the Broader Middle East Aviation Recovery

AEGEAN’s restart today is not just an AEGEAN story. It is a data point in the most closely watched aviation recovery sequence since COVID.

The pattern emerging from the Ben Gurion reopening is:

1. Israeli carriers (El Al, Arkia, Israir) restart immediately — full operations from April 9
2. Israeli-owned foreign carriers (Bluebird Airways, TUS Airways) restart April 12–14
3. Regional carriers with short routes (Etihad, Smartwings, Georgian Airways) restart April 15–18
4. Low-cost carriers cautious on safety (Wizz Air) restart April 25
5. Regional European carriers (AEGEAN) restart April 28 — today
6. Major European full-service carriers (BA July 1, Lufthansa August 1)
7. North American majors (Delta Sep 5, United/Air Canada Sep 7)

Each phase validates the one that follows. AEGEAN operating today without incident validates the case for Austrian, Iberia Express, and other European carriers still weighing their May 21 resumption decisions.

AEGEAN’s reinstatement of its Middle East routes is a clear message of gradual de-escalation of the disruption caused by the crisis in Eastern Mediterranean air connectivity. The re-establishment of connections to Riyadh and Amman has a broader strategic dimension, concerning markets with growing tourist and business interest, and the overall role of Athens as a connecting hub with the Middle East.

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🚨 Passenger Action Guide — Israel Travel April 2026

If you are flying to Israel TODAY (April 28):
✅ AEGEAN’s Athens–Tel Aviv service is operating — confirm your flight at aegeanair.com
✅ Arrive at Athens International Airport at least 2 hours before departure
✅ Ben Gurion arrivals: allow 3 hours before departure for any outbound connection
✅ Travel insurance: confirm your policy covers Israel travel — some policies have Middle East exclusions that have not yet been updated post-ceasefire

If you are planning Israel travel in May 2026:
✅ AEGEAN adds Heraklion (April 30), Larnaca, Rhodes (both May 21) — Eastern Mediterranean options significantly improve
✅ Wizz Air Budapest expanding from April 25 — more budget options emerging
✅ Austrian Airlines and Iberia Express suspensions end May 31 — check for June bookings
✅ Fares will remain elevated for UK and US passengers until BA/United return in July/September

If you are planning Israel travel in summer 2026:
✅ British Airways July 1 return is the key event for UK passengers — fares will drop post-restart
✅ Lufthansa August 1 — Frankfurt hub connectivity restored for German/Central European connections
✅ Delta September 5, United/Air Canada September 7 — US fares begin normalising

For Israel travel insurance:
✅ Check your policy specifically for “acts of war” and “conflict zone” exclusions — many standard policies exclude claims arising from the Iran conflict
✅ Specialist travel insurance providers (e.g., Campbell Irvine, Battleface) offer conflict-zone cover that standard policies do not
✅ Book with a credit card that includes travel disruption protection — this supplements (but does not replace) standalone travel insurance

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🔑 Complete Resource Directory

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Bottom Line

Today, April 28, 2026 — 59 days after the Iran war grounded every foreign airline serving Tel Aviv — AEGEAN Airlines operates the first Athens–Tel Aviv flight from a major European carrier since February 28. The decision comes after careful assessment of current conditions, with the airline restarting flights that had been suspended for safety and operational management reasons.

This is not the full recovery of Middle East aviation — not yet. British Airways remains suspended until July 1. United Airlines and Air Canada until September 7. Delta until September 5. Fares on El Al from New York remain over $2,000 in peak summer months. Ben Gurion operates at well below pre-war traffic levels.

But AEGEAN today, Heraklion in two days, and the May 21 additions of Larnaca, Rhodes, Riyadh, and Amman represent the first clear phase of real European connectivity restoration. Every airline that restarts validates the next wave. The sequence runs from AEGEAN today through BA in July through the US majors in September — and by October, Ben Gurion should be operating close to pre-war international connectivity.

What you need to know:

• Flying from Athens: AEGEAN operates today — book at aegeanair.com
• Flying from UK: El Al from Heathrow, or connect via Athens on AEGEAN — BA returns July 1
• Flying from US: El Al direct or connect via Athens/Abu Dhabi — United/Delta/Air Canada return September 5–7
• Flying from Australia: Via Singapore or Abu Dhabi connections — most straightforward current routings
• Fares: Elevated on all routes until major carriers return. July and September are the key normalisation dates.
• Ben Gurion: Fully open, all services operational — 3 hours before departure recommended

The thaw has begun. Today is its first day.

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For More Resources:

• AEGEAN Airlines: aegeanair.com
• El Al Israel Airlines: elal.com
• Ben Gurion Airport: iaa.gov.il
• Israel Tourism: israeltourism.com
• EASA CZIB updates: easa.europa.eu

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Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.