El Al's Russia Flights Halted Amid Security Concerns and Political Dispute

El Al, Israel's national airline, has been seeking alternatives to its flights to Moscow due to deteriorating security conditions in Russian airspace. The airline proposed launching direct flights to Saint Petersburg instead, but Russia rejected the initiative. According to Israel's Channel 12, the refusal was attributed not only to security issues but also to a political factor, with Moscow linking the decision to Israel's denial of Aeroflot, the Russian state carrier, permission to fly to Israel.

El Al had previously suspended its Tel Aviv-Moscow flights from June to September due to the escalating conflict in Ukraine and increased drone attacks. The airline stated it would reassess the situation before deciding on a return. The proposed Saint Petersburg route was seen as a compromise, but it too was denied by Russian authorities.

The Israeli channel interprets Moscow's decision as retaliation for Jerusalem's stance on Aeroflot. While Russian sources have not officially confirmed this as a punitive measure, the Israeli side views it as such. Aeroflot has faced international sanctions impacting its global operations, but Israel has no formal sanctions against Russia. Despite this, Aeroflot has not been granted permission to resume regular flights to Israel, though Israeli transport authorities reportedly do not rule out the possibility, with final decisions allegedly resting with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Notably, Russian private carriers like Red Wings are operating flights to Israel, indicating the restrictions are specific to Aeroflot. Meanwhile, flight safety over Russia remains a concern due to Ukrainian drone attacks, leading to temporary flight schedule and route adjustments. Russian aviation authorities claim flights continue with 37 countries and intend to address flight safety concerns with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The prospects for El Al's return to the Moscow route remain uncertain, with the proposed Saint Petersburg alternative also unsuccessful. Direct air travel between Israel and Russia is now contingent on both the security situation in Russian airspace and the political disagreements surrounding Aeroflot's access to Israel.