FedEx suspends Israel freighter flights

FedEx Express has suspended inbound and outbound flights to Israel after a large attack by Hamas insurgents from Gaza over the weekend. Other cargo operators are trying to keep air cargo traffic flowing during the war despite the risk in the air and at Tel Aviv airport.

FedEx Express has joined the growing list of airlines that have significantly reduced international flights into Israel following a major attack by Hamas insurgents from Gaza over the weekend. However, other cargo operators are working to maintain air cargo traffic during the conflict, despite the risks involved. While civil aviation authorities in the US, European Union, and Israel have urged caution in the region's airspace, they have not imposed flight restrictions. Israel's aviation regulator has advised carriers to review security and threat information, carry more fuel, and alter some flight paths to the capital. According to the logistics consulting firm Trade and Transport Group, Israel's air cargo market is relatively small, with approximately 300,000 to 400,000 metric tons of goods transported annually. FedEx has suspended inbound and outbound flights to Israel on Monday and Tuesday, but will continue to monitor the situation. Challenge Group, Israel's only all-cargo operator, will continue to operate to Tel Aviv through its hub at Liege Airport in Belgium. DHL Express has also maintained its services to Tel Aviv, with a freighter arriving from Leipzig, Germany, on Monday evening. OPS Group, an information exchange for pilots, air traffic controllers, and dispatchers, has warned airlines to avoid Israeli airspace due to the high risk of mistaken missile attacks, debris from air defenses, GPS spoofing, false alerts from ground proximity warning systems, and limited route options in emergencies. US carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have all suspended direct flights to Israel, while Air France and Lufthansa have also temporarily suspended operations. However, Israel's national carrier, El Al, is operating a full schedule and adding flights to bring back reservists called into duty by the government.

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