Greece's Blue Bird Airways Restarts Flights to Israel

(MENAFN) Greece's Blue Bird Airways made history Sunday as the first foreign carrier to resume flights to Israel since the closure of Israeli airspace, marking a symbolic step toward normalcy following weeks of conflict-driven disruption.

The airline relaunched service with a flight departing from Athens International Airport, touching down at Ben Gurion Airport southeast of Tel Aviv — the first international commercial landing by a foreign operator since hostilities grounded cross-border air traffic.

The milestone follows a gradual restoration of aviation activity in the region. Israeli carriers had already begun quietly rebuilding operations in the wake of the conflict with Iran, and the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire that took effect Wednesday unlocked a broader wave of international re-engagement, with several foreign airlines swiftly announcing return schedules.

The resumption is set to accelerate in the coming days. Uzbekistan Airways is scheduled to restart flights from Tashkent on Tuesday, while Cyprus-based TUS Airways is preparing to relaunch service from multiple European cities around the same timeframe.

The return of commercial air traffic to Ben Gurion Airport signals cautious but growing confidence in the durability of the ceasefire — even as diplomatic efforts to reach a permanent resolution between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked following the collapse of talks in Islamabad on Saturday.

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