British Airways plans to restart Heathrow–Tel Aviv flights on October 25, once a day

British Airways plans to restart flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on October 25, 2026. The route has been suspended for about eight months.

Tickets for direct flights from October 25 onward are on sale at ba.com, according to Jewish News. The news broke on October 8, 2026.

A smaller schedule at first

BA will start with one flight a day. Before the suspension, it flew the route twice a day.

Schedule data cited by Aviation A2Z shows the flights using an Airbus A321neo. That is a narrow-body jet with one aisle. BA's narrow-body business cabin, Club Europe, has a blocked middle seat rather than a flat bed. If you are used to a wide-body jet on longer European flights, set your expectations to match.

BA has not shared flight times in the reports we reviewed. Check the timetable on ba.com before you plan connections.

Why the route stopped

BA suspended Tel Aviv flights on February 28, 2026, after Israeli strikes on Iran. The airline cited safety concerns across the Middle East. The Times of Israel describes the trigger as the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran.

BA pushed back its return date several times after that. It later extended the pause through late October.

Other Middle East routes

Tel Aviv was not the only route affected. BA also paused or changed flights to several other cities in the region this year:

• Dubai, Bahrain and Amman were out of BA's schedule for much of the year.
• BA changed its planned schedules for Doha and Riyadh.
• BA says other markets in the region remain under review for operations and security.

BA has not said when, or whether, the other suspended routes will return. Its winter 2026/27 schedule is still being adjusted.

Who owns BA

BA is part of International Airlines Group (IAG). Qatar Airways is IAG's largest shareholder. A Jerusalem Post report cited by Aviation A2Z said Qatar Airways held about 25% of IAG's voting rights at the end of 2025.

What to do if you are booked

If you hold a ticket on or after October 25, here is a short checklist:

• Check your booking. Open "Manage My Booking" on ba.com and confirm the flight time and aircraft. A reduced schedule can mean a retimed flight.
• Check connections. With one flight a day, a missed connection may mean waiting until the next day. Leave more time than usual at Heathrow.
• Check travel advice. Read the latest guidance from your government before you go. US travelers can check the State Department. UK travelers can check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
• Check your insurance. Some travel policies exclude areas under government travel warnings.
• Watch for changes. BA moved this date more than once. Turn on flight alerts in the BA app.

Neither report we reviewed covered rebooking or refund rules for the restart. If your plans no longer work, contact BA directly.

Lounges on the route

At Heathrow, BA's Tel Aviv flights leave from Terminal 5. Eligible passengers can use the Galleries Club lounges and, with top status, Galleries First. See our Heathrow airport page for the full list. Our Tel Aviv airport page lists lounges at Ben Gurion.

Lounge access depends on your ticket and status, so check the rules for your flight.

What it means for travelers

The restart gives travelers a nonstop option between London and Tel Aviv again. But the schedule is half what it was, and the plane is smaller. Book early if your dates are fixed, and keep an eye on your booking until you fly.

Sources: The Times of Israel, October 8, 2026; Jewish News; Aviation A2Z, October 8, 2026