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(Adds Virgin Atlantic, Iberia cancellations)
By Sarah Young
LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - British Airways, Virgin
Atlantic and Iberia all cancelled flights to Tel Aviv as
European carriers joined U.S. airlines in avoiding flying to
Israel amid an escalating conflict there.
"The safety and security of our colleagues and customers is
always our top priority, and we continue to monitor the
situation closely," British Airways said after cancelling its
flights to and from Tel Aviv on Thursday.
UK-based Virgin Atlantic cancelled a flight there late on
Wednesday and said it was reviewing whether to operate its
Thursday evening flight.
Spanish airline Iberia also cancelled its Tel Aviv flights
on Thursday and Friday, a spokeswoman said, adding the airline
will make a decision on future flights based on the evolution of
the situation.
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and
American Airlines on Wednesday all cancelled flights
between the United States and Tel Aviv.
Virgin Atlantic had said earlier this week that bookings to
Israel had soared 250% week on week after an announcement by
Britain that Israel was on its "green list" for the reopening of
overseas leisure travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But an explosion of violence, with fighting in Jerusalem and
the Gaza Strip causing mounting civilian deaths, have made
international airlines wary of the region.
British airline easyJet said that it was not yet
cancelling its flights to Tel Aviv. Its next flight there is
from Berlin and not scheduled until May 16, with a service from
London Luton to Tel Aviv scheduled for May 18.
"We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation," an
easyJet spokeswoman said.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; additional reporting by Inti
Landauro in Madrid, editing by Michael Holden and Carmel
Crimmins)
