An executive from Air India confirmed to PTI that services on the New Delhi-Tel Aviv route will remain suspended through May 31.
Most major airlines have ceased operations on the Tel Aviv route, with only Israeli carriers such as El Al, IsraAir, Arkia, and Air Haifa operating under strict limitations.
This suspension has raised significant concerns among over 40,000 Indians residing in Israel who need to travel back to India for various personal or professional reasons, or to escape the growing tensions in the area.
Indians seeking to leave Israel must traverse through Jordan or Egypt, entering these countries via land crossings.
The Indian mission in Tel Aviv has been providing assistance to those seeking to travel by various means.
The embassy has also been in regular contact with the community during this time, establishing a 24/7 emergency hotline and initiating a comprehensive registration campaign.
On Saturday, Ambassador J P Singh and the embassy team conducted a virtual meeting with Indian workers and students across Israel to address their concerns, affirming their “ongoing support during the current crisis and beyond,” as noted on the mission’s social media account.
The direct flight service between New Delhi and Tel Aviv was reinstated on January 1, featuring four weekly flights using the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
However, services have faced interruptions since the US and Israel conducted a joint operation against Iran on February 28.
The Islamic Republic’s retaliation has expanded the conflict to the entire Gulf region, severely impacting energy supply chains, particularly across the Strait of Hormuz.
(Edited by : priyanka deshpande)
