Israel resumes outgoing flights on 8th day of war with Iran

Israel will reopen Ben Gurion Airport for outbound flights on Sunday, with passenger numbers initially capped at 70 per flight following weeks of airspace closures due to regional conflict.

Reuters

8 March 2026 at 08:53:38

Israel resumes outgoing flights on 8th day of war with Iran

An Israeli soldier greets loved ones who returned to Israel from Italy on one of the first flights since Israel's airspace reopened, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, at Ben Gurion International airport in Lod, Israel, March 5, 2026.

Reuters

Israel will allow outbound passenger flights to resume from Ben Gurion Airport starting on Sunday (March 8) after authorities expanded operational procedures at the country’s main international gateway.

Under a government framework, flights departing from Israel will be allowed to carry passengers from 8:00am local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday, though the number of travellers will initially be limited to 70 passengers per flight.

Israel's airspace had closed on February 28 at the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, which have triggered retaliatory missile barrages from Iran against Israel.

The country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, gradually resumed flights and opened overnight between Wednesday (March 4) and Thursday (March 5).

The closure of Israeli airspace left many Israelis stranded abroad without a way to return.

Production: Nuha Sharaf/Reuters