TEMPO.CO, Washington - The United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted a temporary ban on flights by American carriers to and from Tel Aviv.
The ban, which was issued after a rocket fired from Gaza struck within one mile of the airfield, was rescinded 36 hours later. The FAA said that they are working with the government to assess the security situation in Israel and analyzing new information to minimize the risk of civil aviation.
In addition to the US, a number of international flights also stopped serving flights to Tel Aviv yesterday, such as airlines from Canada, Germany, Italy and France. Only Israeli airline El Al remains operational. It is unclear whether the foreign airlines will resume operation. "Europe is following the decision of the US," said Gadi Regev, Chief of Israel Civil Aviation Authority.
American Airlines, which has joined with US Airways, said that they will operate flights from Philadelphia and Tel Aviv only if the FAA approves. Even way before the ban was imposed by the FAA, US airlines have began cancelling flights to Israel.
REUTERS | WASHINGTON POST | NATALIA SANTI