**A Cautious Return to Tel Aviv** After several months of suspension due to heightened regional tensions, a number of European airlines are progressively resuming flights to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport as of early July. The move is gradual and closely monitored, but it marks a significant step toward normalizing international traffic to Israel. For ATPL and ATC students, this situation offers a real-world case study in how airlines and regulators manage risk in volatile geopolitical environments. **Lufthansa Group Leads the Way** The Lufthansa Group has made a notable return to the Israeli market. Lufthansa and its subsidiary ITA Airways resumed regular flights to Tel Aviv on July 1 and 2, respectively. Austrian Airlines had already restarted operations on June 2, while low-cost carrier Eurowings is expected to follow by mid-July. SWISS plans to return on August 1 with a daily service from Zurich. These resumptions follow safety assessments conducted in coordination with European and Israeli authorities. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its recommendation against flying to Israel in May, but continues to require European airlines to conduct rigorous risk assessments before each flight. As a result, the Lufthansa Group is maintaining reduced schedules compared to pre-crisis levels, with a gradual ramp-up. **Air France Returns, Transavia Waits** Air France also resumed flights to Tel Aviv on July 2, restoring the Paris–Tel Aviv route after months of suspension. The French carrier plans to follow up by relaunching services to Dubai on July 5, Riyadh on July 6, and Beirut on July 9, signaling a broader recovery of its Middle Eastern network. In a statement, Air France emphasized: "The company continuously monitors the geopolitical situation in the territories it serves and overflies to guarantee the highest level of flight safety." This reminder underscores that any resumption remains conditional on ongoing risk evaluation. Transavia France, the low-cost arm of Air France-KLM, has not yet officially announced its return schedule, but its booking system already allows reservations for Tel Aviv from September 7, 2026, hinting at a fall restart pending confirmation. **Other European Carriers Reactivate Routes** Beyond the Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM, several other European carriers are gradually returning to Israel. Spain's Air Europa reopened its Madrid–Tel Aviv route on June 29. Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air, along with other operators, has also resumed or increased rotations in recent weeks, benefiting from a relative improvement in the security situation following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Conversely, some major airlines remain cautious. British Airways, for example, has postponed its return to Israel until October. On the American side, Delta Air Lines and other carriers are considering a return in September, depending on security developments and regulatory recommendations. **A Fragile Recovery Under Close Watch** Despite these encouraging signs, international traffic to Israel remains below normal levels. Frequencies are reduced, capacities adjusted, and flight schedules regularly reassessed. Airlines insist on continuous monitoring of the security situation and do not rule out further adjustments if conditions deteriorate. For ATPL and ATC students, this scenario highlights the critical importance of operational flexibility, risk assessment protocols, and coordination with regulatory bodies like EASA. The gradual return of foreign airlines to Israel is a positive signal for the tourism sector and the destination's return to a semblance of normalcy, but it also serves as a reminder that aviation operations in conflict-prone regions require constant vigilance and adaptive planning.