Sanaa Targets Flights from Bab al-Mandab to the Runway

NYN | Reports and analyses 

With every missile launched from Yemen toward Israel, it’s not just shrapnel that scatters — airline bookings are also falling, flight paths are shrinking, and the Israeli economy is facing disruptions during one of its most sensitive tourist seasons.

The Hebrew-language newspaper Calcalist revealed that the Yemeni strike on Ben Gurion Airport last Wednesday led to the cancellation of dozens of flights, noting that the aviation sector is now facing a ripple effect that threatens its overall stability.

The reported figures show a 47% drop in bookings, amid warnings that Israel’s aviation sector could be heading toward a complete paralysis.

In a sign of the growing fear creeping into foreign airlines, the Israeli travel and aviation news site Passport Newsreported that Italian airline ITA has decided to extend the suspension of its flights to Israel until August 31, reflecting mounting European concern over the deteriorating security situation.

The anxiety isn’t limited to European airlines. The Hebrew site The Marker reported that Air India has also decided to extend its suspension of flights to and from Israel until the end of August — further deepening Tel Aviv’s aerial isolation from Asia as well.

The economic newspaper Globes was more direct, stating: “Most foreign airlines will not return to Ben Gurion Airport this summer.”

This statement carries significant weight — not only for tourism but also for Israel’s image as a safe destination in the region.

In a broader perspective, the Israeli tourism site IAS warned of direct impacts on travel routes to neighboring countries. Citing a report by Greece’s Alpha Bank, it noted that around 1.3 million airline seats on flights from Israel to Greece this summer are now at risk — a situation that threatens both economic losses and a gradual isolation.

The Message Goes Beyond the Runway

The Yemeni missiles launched from Sanaa are not merely military tools — they are strategic messages hitting the heart of Israel’s air travel and tourism industries.

As escalation continues, the skies are becoming another battlefield in the struggle for influence and deterrence — where losses are not just limited to infrastructure, but also extend to trust, reputation, and national income.

In this unfolding scene, the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) appears to have seized a new strategic nerve: Israel’s airspace, now threatened not only by missiles but by waning trust from global airlines and a disrupted aviation landscape.