ISRAEL: US ban on flights to Israel lifted as Gaza death toll tops 700

Record ID: 401299

  • Title: ISRAEL: US ban on flights to Israel lifted as Gaza death toll tops 700
  • Date: 24th July 2014
  • Summary: BEN GURION AIRPORT, ISRAEL (JULY 24, 2014) (REUTERS) ISRAELI AIRLINE EL AL PLANE TAXIING ON TARMAC ISRAEL AIRLINE ARKIA PARKED ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF PLANE TAXIING VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WALKING THROUGH TERMINAL PASSENGERS STANDING NEAR LUGGAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) STRANDED PASSENGER BATIA AVIV: "We are waiting here from six o'clock in the morning to the flight going to Tur
  • Embargoed: 8th August 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Conflict,General,Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVACUHLD2N5LTXL8F8E7X5B90J6Z
  • Story Text: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday (July 24) lifted restrictions on U.S. flights in and out of Israel's main Ben Gurion Airport.
    The FAA said it would allow U.S. carriers Delta, United and American unit US Airways to resume flights to Israel's commercial capital.
    Israel welcomed the FAA decision but many passengers remained stranded on Thursday at Israel's International Ben Gurion airport waiting for European and other countries to follow suit.
    Israeli passenger, Batia Aviv, who was waiting for a Turkey-bound flight, complained the airlines and Israeli authorities are not providing travellers with enough information.
    "We are waiting here from six o'clock in the morning to the flight going to Turkey. Currently we don't know what to do because nobody is telling us if the flights are going on time or not. We are still waiting and we hope that soon we get.. somebody will approach us and tell us what to do. Currently we are with children and they hungry, they don't have any patience, they are waiting they are waiting for the flight and we hope for good (news)," she said.
    Transport Minister Yisrael said Israel was holding talks with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to restore flights.
    "U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has changed its position and decided to authorise flights to Israel as a results the U.S. companies will renew their flights and we are currently working with the European companies, we are currently holding talks with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and I hope that until the afternoon they reach a positive decision to renew European flights to Israel as well," Katz said from Ben Gurion airport.
    Shortly after Katz spoke Europe's aviation regulator said it will cancel its warning that recommends airlines do not fly to Israel.
    The FAA on had issued a ban on U.S. carriers from flying to Tel Aviv after a Palestinian rocket fired from Gaza fell close to Ben Gurion International Airport.
    EASA later published its own recommendation and ultimately, 30 foreign airlines cancelled flights to Israel the last two days.
    The ensuing wave of cancellations by foreign airlines emptied Israel's usually bustling international gateway and hurt its hi-tech economy at the height of summer tourist season. It was hailed as a "victory" by Hamas, and prompted an appeal by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to intervene.
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