Ben Gurion airport saw its first wave of flight resumptions this weekend, but Swiss International Air Lines will remain grounded on the route for at least eight more weeks. An intelligence bulletin from travel analytics firm Air Traveler Club confirmed on 3 May that the Lufthansa Group—covering Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian and Brussels Airlines—has pushed its Tel Aviv suspension through 30 June, citing continuing security uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict.
While regional carriers Azerbaijan Airlines, TAROM and SkyUp restarted Baku-, Bucharest- and Chisinau-services on 4 May, the Lufthansa Group is holding out for a mid-May security review. The stance leaves Swiss-based corporate travellers with limited options: El Al for direct service, or connections via Bucharest, Baku, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul.
Amid the scramble to rearrange itineraries, many passengers will transit countries that normally aren’t on their corporate travel map; VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers a quick way to verify entry requirements and secure any necessary e-visas or transit permits, helping travel managers keep rerouted staff fully compliant without adding extra administrative burden.
![Swiss passengers face longer Tel Aviv blackout as Lufthansa Group stretches suspension to 30 June]()
Travel managers should act now to rebook or refund tickets for May and June under EU261 rules. Because the cancellations are final rather than tentative, passengers are entitled to immediate rerouting or a cash refund, though extraordinary-circumstance provisions may limit compensation.
Companies with high-volume traffic to Israel are exploring charter or block-booked seats on El Al, which has added frequency from Zürich to absorb displaced demand. If the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifts its Middle-East airspace warning on 5 May, Lufthansa Group could restore limited frequencies in early June, but no firm timeline is in place.
Fares on available routes remain elevated—by as much as 40 percent compared with January—so budget holders should anticipate higher trip costs through the summer. Risk advisers also recommend reviewing travel-insurance clauses, as many policies exclude war-related disruptions. Staff with urgent Israel travel may need special approvals or virtual alternatives until the security review concludes.
While regional carriers Azerbaijan Airlines, TAROM and SkyUp restarted Baku-, Bucharest- and Chisinau-services on 4 May, the Lufthansa Group is holding out for a mid-May security review. The stance leaves Swiss-based corporate travellers with limited options: El Al for direct service, or connections via Bucharest, Baku, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul.
Amid the scramble to rearrange itineraries, many passengers will transit countries that normally aren’t on their corporate travel map; VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers a quick way to verify entry requirements and secure any necessary e-visas or transit permits, helping travel managers keep rerouted staff fully compliant without adding extra administrative burden.
Travel managers should act now to rebook or refund tickets for May and June under EU261 rules. Because the cancellations are final rather than tentative, passengers are entitled to immediate rerouting or a cash refund, though extraordinary-circumstance provisions may limit compensation.
Companies with high-volume traffic to Israel are exploring charter or block-booked seats on El Al, which has added frequency from Zürich to absorb displaced demand. If the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifts its Middle-East airspace warning on 5 May, Lufthansa Group could restore limited frequencies in early June, but no firm timeline is in place.
Fares on available routes remain elevated—by as much as 40 percent compared with January—so budget holders should anticipate higher trip costs through the summer. Risk advisers also recommend reviewing travel-insurance clauses, as many policies exclude war-related disruptions. Staff with urgent Israel travel may need special approvals or virtual alternatives until the security review concludes.
