Israel
Rescue flights for Israelis stranded abroad to start on Thursday
El Al confirmed it had received over 60,000 applications after opening a registration system fro those stuck overseas
June 16, 2025 13:39
El Al confirmed it had received over 60,000 applications after opening a registration system fro those stuck overseas
June 16, 2025 13:39El Al will begin operating a limited number of one-way flights to Tel Aviv by Thursday, to gradually bring home the tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad by the war against Iran, Transport Minister Miri Regev has announced.
Arkia said it will also operate rescue flights, as soon as Israeli security officials give the go ahead, from Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Paris and New York, including on Saturdays.
The government rescue plan will include flights from several major cities that El Al services but will not include outbound travel at this stage.
The list of the cities and the flights times will be announced by the Israeli national carrier.
“We will carry out the gradual return of Israelis in a staged manner in coordination with the Ministry of Defense,” Regev said. “I am aware of the distress of Israelis wanting to return home, but we will not take a chance and allow a plane to land and then heaven forfend there is an event on the ground where we will need to explain how we allowed a plane to land with more than 300 people killed.
“I am asking those abroad to have patience. There is no reason to be under pressure. You are abroad. Enjoy,” she said.
El Al has confirmed earlier that it had opened a registration programme for those Israelis stuck abroad, with more than 60,000 applications received within a few hours.
The airline said it was trying to “formulate a list of destinations” to try and locate those stuck overseas and “build a flight schedule” for when Israeli airspace reopens.
Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion airport has been closed for several days, with all flights grounded, due to indiscriminate strikes on civilian areas by the Islamic Republic.
Missiles have hit population centres including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Petah Tikva with a total of 22 people killed according to the Israeli government.
A statement from the airline read: “At this time, El Al is formulating the list of destinations and the scope of flights that will be allowed to operate under this plan.
"The purpose of the registration is to map the location of our customers in the world, and accordingly build a flight schedule.
"The rescue flights will be operated in a phased manner, and therefore patience will be required from El Al customers staying abroad.
"We recommend that passengers prepare and make accommodation and lodging arrangements."
A spokesperson added that it would prioritise “exceptional humanitarian cases, subject to the presentation of appropriate certificates and approval by a medical team on behalf of El Al” and “political and security needs – subject to approvals from relevant state authorities”.
They also emphasised that the repatriations would take place based on passengers’ original flight dates rather than the date of registration.
Registration can be completed directly on the El Al website or through travel agents, after which customers will be sent a confirmation email within three hours – though this is a confirmation of registration only rather than of any flight details.