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Ongoing Conflicts Affect Global Operations, Future Industry Planning
A passenger makes his way toward the departures area at Ben Gurion Airport on Aug. 6, 2024.
Though the causes and day-to-day effects on humans are very different, wars are not unlike pandemics when it comes to impacts on airline and airport operations. Massive disruption, suspension of services, loss of connectivity, financial loss and uncertainty about the future are just some of the results.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, the operations of airlines and airports in Ukraine and Israel have been massively affected.
In Israel’s case, flag carrier El Al has become a connectivity lifeline as it has worked to maintain operations in the most challenging of circumstances. That is not dissimilar to how airlines maintained critical flights through the first, worst months of the COVID pandemic. In all cases, brave decisions must be taken by airline and airport leaders, and the stresses and risks assumed by crews and ground workers should not be underestimated.
With war, the impacts also easily spread beyond the nation or nations involved.
This package of articles provides insights from those who are on the ground and in the air leading the quest to maintain commercial air connectivity. Most remarkable is their optimism that the plans they embarked on before war broke out will ultimately be validated in future network growth, new fleets, more passengers and financial stability.
On the Frontlines
El Al execs talk about operating an airline since the Oct. 7 attacks
Bold Ambitions
Royal Jordanian CEO holds on to growth plans
Ukraine’s Airspace Dilemma
Is a plan to reopen war-damaged airports viable?
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