Israel facing ‘sensitive period’ by end of the week, aviation chief tells airlines

Head of Israel’s aviation authority hints that the Middle East could face a major war by the end of the week, warning foreign airlines that the country is poised to enter a “sensitive period.”

By World Israel News Staff

Israel may be facing a major security threat later this week that could force the closure of the country’s airspace, the head of Israel’s air authority warned.

According to a report by Channel 12 published Saturday, Civil Aviation Authority head Shmuel Zakai recently penned a letter to foreign air carriers warning them that Israel could be about to enter a “more sensitive period” by the end of the week.

While Zakai did not point to any definitive indications of changes to air travel conditions to and from Israel, he said the situation is “dynamic,” with the country possibly facing security closures of its airspace in the near future.

Over the past two years, Israel has closed its airspace three times, each during military confrontations with Iran, including during the ballistic missile attacks in April 2024, a second round in October 2024, and during the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025.

On Sunday, Israeli airlines responded to concerns over the lingering regional tensions by softening the terms for canceling flights.

All three of Israel’s major airlines – El Al, Israir, and Arkia – said they have received a large number of inquiries lately regarding cancellation policies and the possibility that their flights could be canceled in the event of a regional escalation.

Each of the three Israeli carriers said that they have eased the conditions for canceling flight bookings, with El Al granting full refunds for any cancellation up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure time. The policy is slated to remain in force for the next two weeks.

While Arkia has matched El Al’s offer, Israir is charging passengers $35 for flight cancellation insurance, allowing them to receive a full refund for any cancellations up to three days before their scheduled flight.