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Greek carrier SKY Express has suspended all flights between Athens and Tel Aviv after Israeli authorities ordered a temporary closure of the country’s airspace, stranding travelers across the busy Greece–Israel corridor but offering flexible alternatives to adjust or cancel trips.
SKY Express pulls Athens–Tel Aviv flights after Israel shuts skies
SKY Express confirmed that all scheduled services between Athens International Airport and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport are canceled for the period from Sunday, March 1, to Monday, March 2, following an emergency shutdown of Israel’s airspace to civilian traffic. The decision aligns the Greek carrier with a growing list of airlines forced to halt operations to the country as regional tensions spike.
The airline said the cancellations apply in both directions on the Athens–Tel Aviv route and stressed that the move was driven exclusively by safety and regulatory requirements. Israel’s airspace closure, announced after joint military strikes in the region, immediately halted arrivals and departures at Ben Gurion, one of the eastern Mediterranean’s key aviation hubs.
SKY Express emphasized that affected customers have been notified directly via their contact details on file and urged anyone due to travel on March 1 or March 2 to check their booking status before heading to the airport. Airport displays in Athens were already showing multiple cancellations to and from Tel Aviv as airlines updated their schedules in real time.
Rebooking, vouchers, and refunds offered to stranded passengers
In a detailed advisory, SKY Express outlined three main options for passengers whose Athens–Tel Aviv flights have been scrapped. Travelers may rebook free of charge on a future flight on the same route, with departure dates available through the end of 2026. That extended window is designed to give both leisure and business travelers flexibility, particularly those who may be reluctant to return to the region until conditions stabilize.
Passengers who no longer wish to travel can instead request a credit voucher equal to the value of their original ticket, valid for 12 months. This option has been framed as a way to preserve travel budgets at a time when future itineraries are uncertain and broader Middle East connectivity remains volatile.
For those seeking to cancel entirely, SKY Express is also offering full refunds on affected bookings. The airline has directed customers to manage changes online where possible, while those opting for refunds may need to contact customer service directly due to the surge in inquiries. Call centers and airport desks in Athens have seen a sharp rise in traffic as travelers race to rearrange onward plans.
Travel agents in Greece reported a spike in last-minute itinerary overhauls, with some passengers trying to reroute via European hubs that still have limited links into the region or opting to postpone trips altogether. Many group tours and religious pilgrimages scheduled for early March are now on hold pending clarity on how long Israel’s airspace restrictions will last.
Wider Middle East airspace closures intensify European travel chaos
The SKY Express suspension comes amid a broader wave of airspace closures and flight cancellations across the Middle East after new strikes involving Israel and Iran triggered retaliatory attacks and heightened security alerts. Aviation authorities in several countries, including Israel, Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf, have either shut airspace outright or imposed severe restrictions, forcing airlines to cancel flights or undertake lengthy detours.
By March 1, hundreds of thousands of passengers were affected globally as carriers diverted services away from key hubs such as Tel Aviv, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. According to regional and international aviation reports, more than a thousand flights across the Middle East had been canceled, with knock-on delays rippling into Europe, North America, and Asia. Long-haul routes that normally cross Iranian or Iraqi airspace are being rerouted, resulting in extended flight times, additional fuel stops, and higher operating costs.
Athens, which in recent years has developed into an important connection point for travel between Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, has been hit particularly hard. Local media reported more than 20 cancellations and diversions at Athens International Airport within a single day as Greek and foreign airlines paused services to Tel Aviv and other regional destinations. Aegean Airlines and other carriers serving Israel and Lebanon have similarly announced temporary suspensions, underscoring the depth of the disruption.
Industry analysts warn that if closures persist beyond early March, airlines may be forced to reshuffle aircraft and crews for the spring and summer seasons, with possible implications for fares and seat availability across popular European and Middle Eastern routes.
What travelers between Greece and Israel should do now
For travelers booked on SKY Express between Athens and Tel Aviv on March 1 and March 2, the immediate priority is to confirm whether their flight is affected and select one of the airline’s alternative options. Passenger rights advocates advise acting quickly, as rebooking inventory on future services could tighten if the suspension extends or if other carriers maintain reduced schedules to Israel.
Those with time-sensitive business trips or family emergencies are being urged to discuss contingency plans with their airline or travel agent, including the possibility of routing through alternative gateways once any limited services resume. However, changing itineraries to nearby countries still affected by airspace restrictions carries its own risks, and many travelers may find that postponement is the safest and most predictable choice.
Travelers with connecting itineraries through Athens are also being encouraged to monitor the status of their entire journey, not just the Athens–Tel Aviv segment. Disruptions in the Middle East are already creating a cascade of schedule changes on flights that do not directly touch Israel but that traditionally rely on overflight corridors now restricted for safety reasons.
Insurance coverage is another key consideration. Policy terms vary, but some travel insurance products may offer limited protection in cases of war, airspace closures, or government advisories. Passengers are advised to review their policy documents carefully and contact insurers for clarification before incurring additional out-of-pocket costs.
Uncertain outlook as airlines await clarity on security situation
The outlook for the Athens–Tel Aviv route and wider regional connectivity remains uncertain as of March 1. While some previous Middle East crises have led to relatively short-lived airspace closures, aviation authorities and security experts caution that the current escalation may take longer to resolve, particularly given the involvement of multiple state actors and the potential for further retaliatory actions.
Airlines, including SKY Express, are closely monitoring developments and coordinating with national aviation authorities and international regulators. Any decision to restore flights will depend on formal clearance from Israel’s civil aviation authorities and an assessment that routes can be operated safely without undue risk to passengers and crew.
For now, the message from carriers is that safety takes precedence over schedule reliability. SKY Express has framed its cancellation policy and flexible alternatives as part of a broader commitment to support passengers through an evolving and unpredictable situation, while signaling that its Athens–Tel Aviv link will be reinstated only when conditions allow normal operations to resume.
With the busy spring travel period approaching, both airlines and travelers are bracing for continued volatility. The Athens–Tel Aviv suspension encapsulates the fragile nature of air connectivity in a region where geopolitical shocks can ground flights overnight, leaving carriers to improvise and passengers to navigate a maze of changing routes, waivers, and rebooking options.