After nearly two weeks of tense conflict and grounded flights, Israel reopened its skies for air travel late Tuesday night, signaling a cautious return to normalcy amid a fragile ceasefire with Iran. The Home Front Command lifted all restrictions on gatherings, clearing the way for Israel’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, and other airports to resume full operations following a 12-day closure of the country’s airspace.

The reopening marks a critical phase in a government-led operation to repatriate between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis stranded abroad while also facilitating departures for those wishing to leave. Israeli airlines have already begun restricted flights in recent days, and now all limits on incoming and outgoing flights, as well as passenger numbers, have been lifted, according to the Israel Airports Authority.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev outlined ambitious plans to ramp up flight capacity, extend airport operating hours, and enable Ben Gurion Airport to function at full capacity around the clock. She reported that since the start of the safe return operation last week, over 100,000 Israelis have returned home, with about 70,000 having departed. On Tuesday alone, 24 flights landed at Ben Gurion, nine at Haifa, and a cruise ship brought nearly 2,000 Israelis back.

Flagship carrier El Al announced it would operate all flights at full seat capacity and waive fees for passengers whose flights were canceled during the conflict. The airline is expanding its schedule and adding destinations, focusing on cities where many passengers remain stranded, including Athens, Rome, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Bangkok. Additional flights to Budapest, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Prague, Madrid, Milan, Warsaw, and Sofia will also begin shortly.

Other Israeli carriers are following suit: Arkia plans to resume its regular summer schedule starting July 1, covering popular destinations such as Rhodes, Crete, Paris, Milan, and New York. Israir is preparing to increase flights to Athens, Larnaca, Varna, Tbilisi, Rome, London, Budapest, and Batumi, contingent on the ceasefire holding.

Despite the reopening, many foreign airlines remain cautious. Several carriers have applied to resume flights, including flydubai, Etihad Airways, Blue Bird, TUS Airways, Red Wings, and Ethiopian Airlines, but most foreign airlines have postponed their return until after the summer or even later, having rerouted aircraft to other markets amid security concerns. The gradual return of international carriers is expected to be slow, as airlines seek more stability before fully restoring routes to Israel.

The ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday night and effective Tuesday morning, has been tenuous, with Iran launching ballistic missiles hours later, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes. Nevertheless, the lifting of airspace restrictions and the resumption of flights offer a hopeful sign for Israelis eager to resume travel and normal life after days of uncertainty and disruption.

As summer approaches, Israelis are encouraged to plan their vacations with renewed confidence, even as the aviation sector cautiously rebuilds. The reopening of Israel’s skies stands as a testament to resilience amid conflict and a tentative step toward peace and connectivity.

Croatia is ramping up efforts to strengthen direct air links with the United States, aiming to boost tourism and accessibility between the two nations. The country’s Foreign Minister, Gordan Grlić Radman, recently engaged with local leaders in Florida to explore the “potential establishment of nonstop flights between Croatian and American airports,” signaling a renewed push to enhance transatlantic connectivity.

Long-haul markets, particularly the US, remain vital to Croatia’s tourism growth strategy. The Croatian National Tourist Board emphasized the importance of actively encouraging new routes to improve accessibility for American travelers. This push aligns with the rising numbers of visitors from the US, with over 260,000 Americans journeying to Croatia in the first half of the year—a notable 16% increase compared to the same period last year.

At the forefront of these efforts is Dubrovnik Airport, currently the only Croatian gateway offering nonstop flights to the US through United Airlines’ daily service from Newark throughout most of the summer. Dubrovnik previously welcomed Delta flights from New York’s JFK for a single season in 2021 and American Airlines’ Philadelphia route in 2019. Viktor Šober, CEO of Dubrovnik Airport, highlighted the urgency of expanding these connections: “We are the only airport in Croatia with nonstop service to the US.While currently connected to New York, one route is proving insufficient. We need another, similar to what we had a few years ago.”

However, Šober pointed to significant challenges: “The primary obstacle is the shortage of aircraft and delays in the arrival of new jets due to manufacturing and supply chain issues. It’s a complex situation, making it difficult to secure these flights. Nonetheless, I am confident that within the next year or two, we will have something concrete.”

Looking ahead, major US carriers are gearing up to announce their network plans for the 2026 summer season. American Airlines has already revealed new daily routes from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, as well as flights between Dallas and Athens, operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

Delta is set to launch West Coast services from Los Angeles to Barcelona and Rome next year, with a broader expansion plan expected in September. United Airlines typically unveils its network growth plans in early October, leaving the industry hopeful for further additions connecting Croatia and the US.

As demand for direct flights continues to rise, Croatia’s commitment to expanding nonstop services with American cities promises to enhance travel convenience, support tourism growth, and strengthen transatlantic ties in the coming years.

Riding high on a blockbuster first half, Cebu Pacific is set to add more flights to four important foreign routes to meet the surging travel demand.

Starting October 26, the low-cost carrier will add a Sunday flight to Bangkok, Thailand, increasing options for travelers seeking a Southeast Asian getaway. Just two days later, on October 28, flights between Manila and Da Nang, Vietnam, will ramp up to an impressive 10 times weekly.

For Filipinos heading down under, Cebu Pacific will boost its Manila-Melbourne service to five flights weekly, starting December 12, offering greater flexibility for leisure and business travelers alike. Meanwhile, winter adventurers can look forward to daily flights to Sapporo, Japan, operating from December 10 through February 27, 2026, perfect for those wanting to experience Japan’s snowy season.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao emphasized the benefits of the expansion: “As travel demand continues to rise, these expanded services allow us to better connect Filipinos to the rest of the world and welcome more visitors to the Philippines.”

He added that the increased connectivity not only enhances convenience but also stimulates tourism, unlocks business opportunities, and strengthens economic ties across the Asia-Pacific region.
Last week’s financial results confirmed the airline’s growth momentum, with a remarkable 153 percent jump in net income to P8.97 billion, fueled by a surge in passenger numbers.

With these new and enhanced flight services, Cebu Pacific is poised to play a key role in the country’s post-pandemic travel recovery and regional integration.

On July 26, 2025, Maldives marked its 60th Independence Day with a landmark event: the grand opening of the long-awaited new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (MLE). President Mohamed Muizzu hailed the $585 million facility as “a pillar of economic independence,” spotlighting the terminal’s pivotal role in transforming the island nation’s tourism-driven economy.

Spanning 72,000 square meters and designed to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually—more than triple the previous capacity—the terminal is the largest building ever constructed in the Maldives. It features 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, 20 immigration counters, six boarding gates, and 12 aerobridges, along with state-of-the-art baggage handling and real-time tracking systems. The design elegantly blends modern architecture with Maldivian motifs, reflecting the natural beauty and culture of the islands.

Tourism accounts for roughly 21% of the Maldives’ GDP, and this expansion aims to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks that previously restrained growth. According to the World Bank’s April 2025 report, the facility could bolster average economic growth by 5.2% in the medium term, while the International Monetary Fund expects the expanded terminal to sustain tourism momentum crucial to the country’s prosperity.

The project has a complex political and financial history. Originally initiated with India’s GMR Group in 2010, the contract was canceled in 2012 amid political shifts, leading to alternate funding from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and OPEC development funds alongside national budget contributions. These delays and shifting partnerships have significantly increased Maldives’ foreign debt, which now exceeds $8 billion.

Recent years saw diplomatic strains with India, including a 2024 “Boycott Maldives” campaign. However, relations have warmed considerably post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit, with tourism officials targeting 300,000 Indian visitors in 2025 through enhanced air connectivity and marketing featuring Bollywood star Katrina Kaif. Early 2025 arrivals rose 9%, fueled by strong interest from China and Europe, signaling a recovery and expansion in key markets.

The terminal’s inauguration was celebrated nationwide with dazzling drone light shows, fireworks, and cultural performances across Malé and neighboring islands, drawing some 6,000 guests.

With this state-of-the-art terminal now operational, Maldives is poised to solidify its standing as a premier global destination, supporting the government’s ambitious $5 billion tourism revenue target for the year. Experts and officials alike regard the enhanced airport capacity and facilities as essential to accommodating growing tourist numbers, diversifying market segments such as multi-generational travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), adventure, and wellness tourism, and securing the nation’s economic future.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) has reached a significant milestone by securing Level 3 accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Accreditation programme, awarded in July 2025. This achievement highlights the airport’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class guest experiences and reflects its progress in integrating customer experience into every facet of operations, placing passengers at the core of its service philosophy.

The accreditation comes amid strong passenger growth, with AUH welcoming 15.5 million passengers in the first half of 2025—a 13.2% year-on-year increase. This follows impressive growth rates of 28.1% in 2024 and 44.5% in 2023. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, “As we celebrate 17 consecutive quarters of growth, including a strong performance in the first half of 2025, we remain sharply focused on enhancing the guest experience. Achieving Level 3 accreditation demonstrates our ability to balance expansion with service excellence.”

To earn the Level 3 status, AUH introduced several passenger-centric initiatives praised by ACI. These include dedicated passenger focus groups to gather traveller insights and a guest shadowing programme where staff experience the end-to-end airport journey from a passenger’s viewpoint. Enhanced collaboration is fostered through internal sharing of Voice of the Customer reports and strong cooperation with service partners, embedding a customer-centric approach across the operational ecosystem.

The ACI accreditation, the only global programme evaluating how airports integrate customer experience into their core strategies, reflects a deeper cultural transformation at Zayed International Airport. Employees, stakeholders, and passengers actively contribute to shaping the guest journey, underscoring a commitment to continuous improvement.

This achievement reaffirms Abu Dhabi Airports’ vision of elevating every passenger touchpoint through innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, setting new benchmarks in the global aviation industry.

A 25-year-old Chinese national is slated to face court on August 10 following his arrest for allegedly stealing from a fellow passenger aboard a flight from Dubai to Singapore.

The incident came to light early on August 8 at around 5:30 a.m., when the police received a report regarding a suspected theft in the business class cabin of the flight.

Preliminary investigations revealed that while the victim was asleep, his wife witnessed the suspect allegedly removing the victim’s bag from the overhead compartment. Upon being questioned by the victim’s wife, the man promptly returned the bag but aroused suspicion.

The victim was then alerted, and after the plane landed at Changi Airport, authorities from the Airport Police Division confronted the suspect. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, the man was arrested before he could board his next flight.

The specific airline involved has not been confirmed, though the route from Dubai International Airport to Changi Airport is served by Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

If found guilty, the suspect faces a potential prison sentence of up to three years, a fine, or both. This case highlights the vigilance of passengers and the swift response by law enforcement in safeguarding travel security.