Wizz Air has restarted flights between London and Tel Aviv following the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.
From Thursday, passengers planning to fly between London and Israel or Jordan could now access routes through the budget airline.
It comes as a growing number of businesses and organisations cautiously welcome the news of a ceasefire which could mark the end of 15 months of conflict in the Middle East.
Air travel across the region has been severely impacted since October 2023, with several airlines initially cancelling flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Regional insecurity and growing tensions further prompted a swathe of flight cancellations in 2024 after Israel subsequently attacked Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
However, this week’s news of a three-phase ceasefire has prompted airlines to reassess existing travel restrictions.
Germany’s Lufthansa Group – which carries Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines and Swiss – is also set to resume flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel from the start of February.
EasyJet which had originally suspended flights to Israel until March 2025 is also due to reassess the situation following news of the ceasefire.
A spokesperson for EasyJet told the Standard: “We welcome the news and will be reviewing our plans in the coming days.”
Irish low-cost Ryanair similarly said it was planning to launch a summer schedule that included flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.
However, there remains uncertainty about whether a ceasefire agreement would hold.
Negotiators are now waiting for Israel’s cabinet to formally approve the ceasefire deal, which will include the release of hostages on both sides and a withdrawal of IDF troops from populated areas of Gaza.
However, far-right Israeli politicians have suggested they may resign in response to the ceasefire deal and demanded the country “return to war” after the first phase is completed.
While some airlines are resuming flight operations, others continue to monitor the fast-evolving situation before reinstating flight routes.
Air France-KLM said it would continue to assess the situation on the ground but hopes to reinstate flights by the end of January.
“The operations will resume on the basis of an assessment of the situation on the ground,” the airline said in a statement.
Other routes have also recently opened up in the region as neighbouring countries celebrate new political developments.
Following the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, new flight routes have also been announced between the Syrian capital of Damascus and countries like Turkey.