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Ben Gurion Airport Hit by 85 Cancellations — El Al, United Airlines Affected

Kunal··Updated: Mar 11, 2026·6 min read
Ben Gurion International Airport Tel Aviv flight cancellations disruption 2026

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Quick Summary

  • 85 flights cancelled and 8 delayed at Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, today
  • El Al leads disruptions with 62 cancellations and all 8 delays; KlasJet (8), Israir (4), United Airlines (4), and Aegean Airlines (3) also affected
  • Routes to London, Paris, Athens, Milan, Newark, Bangkok, Dubai, and Rome all impacted
  • Long-haul connections to Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago among North American routes affected

Ben Gurion Airport Paralyzed by 85 Cancellations — Hundreds of Passengers Stranded Now

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on March 11, 2026, as a wave of 85 flight cancellations and 8 delays swept through Israel's main international hub. The disruptions hit airlines across the board — from Israel's national carrier El Al to international operators including United Airlines, British Airways, Aegean Airlines, KlasJet, Israir, TAROM, and Hainan Airlines. Routes connecting Tel Aviv to major cities across Europe, North America, and Asia were all caught in the disruption.

El Al Bears the Brunt of Ben Gurion's Disruption

Israel's flag carrier El Al recorded the highest disruption figures by far, accounting for 62 of the 85 cancellations and all 8 of the reported delays. The scale of El Al's disruptions significantly reduced frequency on many of Ben Gurion's busiest routes.

Passengers booked on El Al services to London, Paris, New York, Bangkok, and other key destinations faced sudden itinerary changes with little notice.

International Airlines Also Hit

Beyond El Al, multiple international carriers reported cancellations out of Tel Aviv:

  • KlasJet — 8 cancellations
  • Israir — 4 cancellations
  • United Airlines — 4 cancellations
  • Aegean Airlines — 3 cancellations
  • TAROM — 2 cancellations
  • British Airways — 1 cancellation
  • Hainan Airlines — 1 cancellation

The breadth of airlines affected — spanning charter, regional, and full-service long-haul operators — underlines how widespread the operational disruption has become at Ben Gurion today.

Which Routes and Airports Are Affected?

The cancellations severed connections between Tel Aviv and a large number of major international travel hubs across three continents.

European routes impacted:

  • London Heathrow
  • Paris Charles de Gaulle
  • Athens International Airport
  • Milan Malpensa
  • Rome Fiumicino
  • Barcelona International Airport
  • Budapest
  • Bucharest (TAROM)
  • Amsterdam
  • Berlin
  • Madrid

North American long-haul routes:

  • Newark Liberty International Airport (UA)
  • Los Angeles
  • Boston
  • Chicago

Other international routes:

  • Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
  • Dubai International Airport

The European network absorbed the largest number of disruptions, with London and Paris among the most heavily affected hub airports.

Key Facts: Ben Gurion Airport Disruptions, March 11, 2026

  • Total cancellations: 85
  • Total delays: 8
  • Most affected airline: El Al — 62 cancellations, 8 delays
  • Other affected airlines: KlasJet (8), Israir (4), United Airlines (4), Aegean Airlines (3), TAROM (2), British Airways (1), Hainan Airlines (1)
  • European hubs impacted: London, Paris, Athens, Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Budapest, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid
  • North American routes: Newark, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago
  • Asia/Middle East: Bangkok, Dubai
  • Source: FlightAware and individual airport data

What This Means for Travelers

Passengers traveling to or from Tel Aviv today face significant uncertainty. With 85 cancellations across the schedule, rebooking availability on alternative flights is likely to be limited — especially on popular European routes where El Al dominates capacity.

Travelers connecting through London Heathrow, Paris CDG, or Athens for onward flights should contact their airline immediately to assess alternative routing options before heading to the airport.

Long-haul passengers on United Airlines routes between Tel Aviv and Newark, Los Angeles, Boston, or Chicago should check their flight status directly with the airline, as four United services have been cancelled.

What affected passengers should do now:

  • Check flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport
  • Contact the airline by phone, app, or airport desk to request rebooking or alternative routing
  • Monitor email and SMS notifications from the airline for schedule updates
  • Keep all booking references and travel documents accessible when contacting support
  • Ask airline staff about meal vouchers, accommodation assistance, or compensation where applicable under applicable passenger rights regulations
  • Consider departing on a later date if schedules remain heavily disrupted through the day

Overview: Why Ben Gurion Disruptions Hit Global Networks Hard

Ben Gurion International Airport serves as Israel's primary international gateway, handling connections to and from dozens of global hubs across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. When disruption strikes at this scale — 85 cancellations in a single day — the cascading effects reach far beyond Tel Aviv itself.

Connecting passengers in London, Paris, and Athens who are transiting to or from Tel Aviv face missed connections. Aircraft originally scheduled to operate outbound flights from Tel Aviv are grounded, causing knock-on delays for services scheduled later in the day at airports across the network.

The involvement of carriers from multiple countries — including the United States (United Airlines), the United Kingdom (British Airways), Greece (Aegean Airlines), Romania (TAROM), and China (Hainan Airlines) — reflects the wide international reach of Ben Gurion's route network and the global impact of today's disruptions.

Authorities and airlines are expected to work through rebooking requests throughout the day as the situation develops. Travelers are advised to stay in direct contact with their carriers for the latest schedule information.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many flights were cancelled at Ben Gurion Airport today? Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv recorded 85 flight cancellations and 8 delays today, March 11, 2026, affecting routes across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Which airline had the most cancellations at Ben Gurion Airport? El Al, Israel's national carrier, recorded the highest number of disruptions with 62 cancellations and 8 delays — accounting for the majority of the day's total disruption at Ben Gurion.

Which international routes were cancelled from Tel Aviv today? Affected routes include services to London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Athens, Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Newark, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Bangkok, and Dubai, among others.

What should passengers do if their flight from Ben Gurion was cancelled? Passengers should check their flight status directly with their airline, contact the airline to request rebooking or alternative routing, and monitor app or email notifications for schedule updates. Those at the airport should speak with airline staff about accommodation, meal vouchers, or compensation options where applicable.

Ben Gurion AirportEl AlUnited AirlinesIsrael FlightsFlight CancellationsTel AvivTravel DisruptionTravel News

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