- February 18, 2026
- 1:19 pm
- Israel
The Israel Airports Authority and the Ministry of Transport are preparing scenarios in case of a possible escalation with Iran. While Ben Gurion International Airport Ben Gurion is operating normally, flights are being conducted according to schedule, but operational plans for wartime have already been worked out.
According to Channel 12, this involves an immediate transition to an emergency aviation security mode — with the closure of the skies, the redeployment of aircraft, and the creation of alternative routes for Israelis to return home.
What will happen in the first hours of escalation
Closure of airspace
In the event of the start of a military conflict, Israel’s airspace will be immediately closed to civilian flights. This is a standard measure in the event of a missile threat and the risk of strikes on strategic infrastructure.
Experience from previous escalations has shown that a delay in closing the skies can lead to chaos in scheduling and a threat to crew safety.
Redeployment of Israeli aircraft abroad
Israeli airliners, along with their crews, will be promptly redeployed to the nearest foreign airports. Simultaneously, the urgent evacuation of foreign airline crews is planned.
This point is critically important: foreign carriers must be assured that in the event of a crisis, their personnel will be able to quickly leave the country. Such guarantees allow international airlines to continue flights to Israel even under tension.
How Israelis will be brought back
Bypass routes through Jordan
For Israeli citizens abroad, alternative return schemes are being prepared. One option is flights to Jordan followed by crossing the border by land.
This model has been used in the past and has shown relative effectiveness in short-term crises.
Sea shuttles from Cyprus
The launch of sea ‘shuttles’ from Cyprus is being discussed again. However, experts are skeptical about the possibility of mass implementation of this scenario.
Most likely, as before, it will involve a few cruise liners that the state can urgently charter. This is a temporary solution that can partially relieve the flow of returnees but cannot replace full-fledged air communication.
Central collection points abroad
The creation of ‘central collection points’ in Europe, Dubai, and the USA is planned. Israelis will be able to independently reach major international hubs, from where special evacuation flights will be organized.
This scheme allows for centralized logistics and reduces the load on the Israeli aviation system in a crisis.
As noted by NAnovosti — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, such measures do not mean the inevitability of war but reflect a strategy to minimize risks for civil aviation and the population.
Why this is important now
Regional tension around Iran remains high. Missile threats and possible strikes on strategic targets make aviation infrastructure one of the first risk zones.
Ben Gurion Airport is a key transport hub of the country. Its closure even for a few days affects the economy, tourism, business negotiations, and the return of reservists.
Emergency response plans help reduce chaos in the first hours of a crisis. However, much will depend on the scale of the conflict and its duration.
For now, the airport is operating normally. But readiness for a quick transition to an emergency format is a signal that Israeli authorities consider the escalation scenario as real and requiring clear logistical preparation.
