S/o Israel: USairlines scrap Israel flts over missile fears

[teflepi]

US airlines scrap Israel flights over missile fear

Two U.S. airlines cancelled all flights to Israel until further notice, after a rocket landed near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines said Tuesday they are suspending service between the U.S. and Israel indefinitely. US Airways scrapped its Tel Aviv service Tuesday and said it is monitoring the situation in regards to future flights.

Delta Air Lines' one daily flight was already in the air. Delta said a Boeing 747 from New York was flying over the Mediterranean headed for Tel Aviv when it turned around and flew to Paris instead. Flight 468 had 273 passengers and 17 crew on board.

Israeli police confirmed that a rocket from Gaza landed in an area near the airport. Police spokeswomen Luba Samri said the rocket caused damage to a house and slightly wounded one Israeli.

Airlines and passengers are growing more anxious about safety since last week, when a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. Airlines have rerouted planes to avoid the area over eastern Ukraine where pro-Soviet separatists are battling the Ukrainian army.

Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration had no immediate comment.

A Delta spokesman declined to go beyond the details released in a statement.

United Airlines has cancelled its two daily flights to Israel out of Newark, N.J., according to spokesman Rahsaan Johnson.

US Airways, which has one daily flight from Philadelphia, canceled that flight Tuesday and the return trip from Tel Aviv.

"We are in constant contact with the FAA and are monitoring the situation closely," said Casey Norton, spokesman for US Airways' parent company American Airlines. The airline has not yet made a decision about flights to Israel scheduled for Wednesday and beyond.


news.yahoo.com/us-airlines-scrap-israel-flights-over-missile-fear-160647030--finance.html

[meshaliuknits]

At this rate there is going to be a good chunk of the world no one wants to fly over.

[iammalcolmx]

I wonder how the passengers reacted to being diverted. When I worked for an airline diverted passengers were always PISSED.

[meshaliuknits]

Jul 22, 2014 12:32:33 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

I wonder how the passengers reacted to being diverted. When I worked for an airline diverted passengers were always PISSED.

About being diverted or just as their general state?

[iammalcolmx]

Jul 22, 2014 12:33:07 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Jul 22, 2014 12:32:33 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

I wonder how the passengers reacted to being diverted. When I worked for an airline diverted passengers were always PISSED.

About being diverted or just as their general state?

Being diverted. When I worked at Washington National Airport we once had a flight diverted that was supposed to go to Dulles. They were awful awful awful.

[aussiecrush]

FAA suspends all flights. It's a hot topic at H's work right now. Full on arguing in the break room.

mobile.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/world/middleeast/faa-halts-us-flights-to-israel.html?_r=0&referrer=

[meshaliuknits]

Jul 22, 2014 12:36:58 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Jul 22, 2014 12:33:07 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

About being diverted or just as their general state?

Being diverted. When I worked at Washington National Airport we once had a flight diverted that was supposed to go to Dulles. They were awful awful awful.

I can see being unhappy about it. If you have connections you've gotta figure everything out on the fly. Like it's the Amazing Race without a cash prize.

But there's no reason to be rude to a gate agent. Unless that person is being a dick.

[iammalcolmx]

I wonder if El AL is still flying there? Also the gate agents in Europe are mean as shit so if the passengers gave them lip you can trust they gave it right back.

[iammalcolmx]

LH and AF are halting flights as well.

[ttt]

Jul 22, 2014 12:39:45 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Jul 22, 2014 12:36:58 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Being diverted. When I worked at Washington National Airport we once had a flight diverted that was supposed to go to Dulles. They were awful awful awful.

I can see being unhappy about it. If you have connections you've gotta figure everything out on the fly. Like it's the Amazing Race without a cash prize.

But there's no reason to be rude to a gate agent. Unless that person is being a dick.

I can see being unhappy too. But surely having to rebook flights is better than having your plane shot down.

[iammalcolmx]

Jul 22, 2014 14:31:48 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jul 22, 2014 12:39:45 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I can see being unhappy about it. If you have connections you've gotta figure everything out on the fly. Like it's the Amazing Race without a cash prize.

But there's no reason to be rude to a gate agent. Unless that person is being a dick.

I can see being unhappy too. But surely having to rebook flights is better than having your plane shot down.

Also El Al can detect missiles but if a missile is headed their way WTF can they do except say " Oh shit"

[alleinesein]

I'm flying right over that part of the world in 15 days. Oh Joy!

[cosmos]

Yes El Al is still flying.

[iammalcolmx]

Did anyone see the flight path? They were almost leaving the coast of Greece before turning back to Paris. I assume they didn't head to Istanbul for obvious reasons but I am wondering why not Athens or someplace closer? Maybe they needed to go where the Delta ground staff was still around?

[trident0]

Jul 22, 2014 22:16:11 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Did anyone see the flight path? They were almost leaving the coast of Greece before turning back to Paris. I assume they didn't head to Istanbul for obvious reasons but I am wondering why not Athens or someplace closer? Maybe they needed to go where the Delta ground staff was still around?

Paris is a major hub for Delta and their partners.  I assume they could get people rerouted much faster if they flew back to Paris than if they dumped the passengers in the first city they could get to.  It's unlikely someone is going to try to rent a car to get there, so it's not really worth getting as close as possible.

[IIOY]

I'm reading in the paper that Netanyahu is angry about this. Of course this isn't an ideal situation but are we are supposed to put citizens at risk?

[ttt]

Jul 23, 2014 6:18:59 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I'm reading in the paper that Netanyahu is angry about this. Of course this isn't an ideal situation but are we are supposed to put citizens at risk?

I am guessing the airlines' insurance companies had some input into this decision as well.

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2014 6:18:59 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I'm reading in the paper that Netanyahu is angry about this. Of course this isn't an ideal situation but are we are supposed to put citizens at risk?

Yeah that's some bullshit right there. If you're willing to participate in bloodbath on your own soil, and can't get serious about a ceasefire, then you damn well better expect the rest of the world to care about its private industry and civilians and avoid your country and airspace.

[iammalcolmx]

Jul 23, 2014 6:27:36 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jul 23, 2014 6:18:59 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I'm reading in the paper that Netanyahu is angry about this. Of course this isn't an ideal situation but are we are supposed to put citizens at risk?

I am guessing the airlines' insurance companies had some input into this decision as well.

OMG Yes that hadn't even crossed my mind.

[iammalcolmx]

Jul 22, 2014 23:40:50 GMT -5 trident0 said:

Jul 22, 2014 22:16:11 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Did anyone see the flight path? They were almost leaving the coast of Greece before turning back to Paris. I assume they didn't head to Istanbul for obvious reasons but I am wondering why not Athens or someplace closer? Maybe they needed to go where the Delta ground staff was still around?

Paris is a major hub for Delta and their partners.  I assume they could get people rerouted much faster if they flew back to Paris than if they dumped the passengers in the first city they could get to.  It's unlikely someone is going to try to rent a car to get there, so it's not really worth getting as close as possible.

I know its a major hub for Delta and Air France. However when they were diverted they didn't know how long the hold was for and thought it possible the 747 would still be able to get the people there. Rome is more than capable than accommodating such an aircraft, is closer than Paris, and I believe Delta is partners with Alitalia as well. However if the situation is up in the air I guess they want to be where they feel most comfortable about keeping the aircraft. It must have been a compelling reason because I know that crew didn't want to be on the flight with diverted passengers any longer than they had to. The dude on CNN said they were basically told nothing.

[cosmos]

FAA lifted their ban last night per NYT.