Airline KLM is resuming flights to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, it said late on Saturday, after previously announcing it would avoid flying over large parts of the Middle East due to rising regional tensions.
"Based on the current security situation and operational feasibility, we have decided to resume our flights to Tel Aviv on February 2 and 3 with an adjusted schedule. From February 1 through 6, we will also operate flights to Dubai, also with an adjusted schedule", KLM said.
KLM, the Dutch arm of the Air France-KLM group, added that it had already resumed flights to other destinations in the region, including Riyadh and Dammam.
Last week, the airline said it would not fly over large parts of the Middle East until further notice due to rising tensions there.
KLM stopped flight routes to Middle East due to Iran situation
"Based on the current security situation and operational feasibility, we have decided not to resume our flights to Tel Aviv for the time being,” it said in a statement.
This came less than 24 hours after the airline announced it planned to resume the route with an alternate schedule last week, following a four-day hiatus due to regional security concerns.
The reversal came amid increasing fears of escalation of conflict with Iran, with Tehran warning of “immediate” and “unprecedented” attacks on Tel Aviv in the event of US strikes.
“At all times, KLM prioritizes the safety of passengers and crew in the execution of its operations. Selecting safe and optimal routes is a standard part of our daily practice,” the airline said.
Ariella Roitman contributed to this report.