Global Aviation Crisis: Storm Fern Hits US as Middle East Tensions Rise

The global aviation industry is facing a double upheaval today (January 26), combining an unprecedented climate crisis in the United States with a dramatic escalation in security tensions in the Middle East. The historic winter storm "Fern" is striking two-thirds of the U.S. territory, with the East Coast, the South, and the Midwest bearing the brunt of the impact.

As of today, over 14,000 flights have been canceled since the start of the weekend, with FlightAware data indicating a near-total paralysis at major airports such as Philadelphia, which recorded 94% cancellations, Boston, and JFK in New York. The climate crisis has left approximately 140 million Americans under weather warnings and led to the declaration of a state of emergency in 11 states.

The storm is directly affecting air links to Israel, with the cancellation of Delta flights on the New York-Tel Aviv route and extensive cancellations by Air India from North America. Major U.S. carriers (United, American, and Delta) have already implemented blanket change-fee waivers for those flying across the U.S., while the FAA warns of cumulative delays that will persist deep into the coming week.

Simultaneously with the chaos in the U.S., the Middle East is experiencing another wave of cancellations driven by security considerations following the escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran and reports of American troop movements to the Gulf. This situation led the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel to issue a warning to foreign airlines regarding a sensitive security period.

Following the situation, the Lufthansa Group (including Swiss and Austrian) has suspended night flights to Israel until the end of January. Air France and KLM have halted their flights to Israel and the Gulf at least until the end of the week, and other airlines such as ITA Airways and IndiGo have announced suspensions and route changes due to intermittent airspace closures in the region.

Amidst this complex situational picture, a significant bright spot for the Israeli supply chain stands out from Etihad Cargo. While many foreign companies are scaling back operations due to regional tensions, Etihad Cargo continues to operate its flight network to Israel without change and is even preparing to expand its activity this coming February with additional dedicated freighter flights.

Meanwhile, Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia have announced a policy of full flexibility, allowing the use of vouchers or cancellation without cost for flights scheduled until February 9, aiming to assist passengers dealing with the dual-centered traffic disruptions in the U.S. and our region.