El Al Halts Russia Flights Amid Ukraine Threat, St. Petersburg Route Denied

El Al, Israel's national airline, has suspended flights to Moscow until at least October 22 due to threats from Ukrainian drones. The airline had planned to launch a new route to St. Petersburg, but Russian authorities denied approval for these flights. This decision by Russia is being viewed in Israel as a potential retaliatory measure against El Al.

Sources within Israel's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority suggest that Russia's refusal to grant El Al permission for St. Petersburg flights may be a response to Israel's earlier stance. Israel had not approved the resumption of Aeroflot flights to Tel Aviv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously warned foreign airlines about the dangers of flying through Russian airspace.

Following Zelensky's statement, which impacted Aeroflot's stock, it is speculated that Russian authorities increased pressure on Israel to reconsider its position regarding sanctions on the Russian carrier. However, Israel has not imposed its own sanctions against Russia.

In 2022, Aeroflot's flights were denied landing rights in Israel, reportedly because international insurance companies ceased covering them. Currently, the Israeli Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority are considering the possibility of Aeroflot returning to the Israeli market. El Al had previously temporarily suspended flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow due to the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict.