El Al is preparing to launch a large-scale operation from 22 cities across Europe, the United States, and Asia to bring home tens of thousands of Israelis stranded overseas, as Israel moves toward a gradual reopening of its airspace beginning next week, Times of Israel reports.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced Monday that aviation officials are working on a phased reopening that could begin as early as Sunday, depending on security conditions.

“I have instructed Civil Aviation Authority head Shmuel Zakay to meet with Israeli airlines so that they are prepared for the opening of the skies in a phased manner starting next week — all of this, of course, in accordance with security developments,” said Regev.

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel’s primary international hub, has remained closed to both incoming and outgoing flights since Saturday. The shutdown followed a major joint military strike by Israel and the US against Iran, which was met with retaliatory missile attacks by Tehran. As a result of the closure, more than 150,000 Israelis have been left abroad.

Once restrictions begin to ease, El Al intends to operate return flights for Israelis from New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, as well as from Bangkok and Phuket. In Europe, flights are expected to depart from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan, Paris, Budapest, Tbilisi, Sofia, Warsaw, Bucharest, Madrid, London, Barcelona, Geneva, Amsterdam, Munich, and Zurich.

The airline said passengers holding tickets for El Al and its subsidiary Sun Dor whose flights were canceled will be placed on repatriation flights without any additional charge. Only after all affected customers have been brought back will seats be made available for purchase by the broader public, El Al stated.

At the same time, Arkia, a smaller Israeli carrier, began operating flights Sunday with an Airbus A320 leased from Electra Airways between Athens and Egypt’s Taba Airport in an effort to assist stranded Israelis in returning home.

Travelers landing in Taba and crossing through the nearby land border into Israel are being met by Egged buses positioned at the terminal. The buses transport passengers to central bus stations in Eilat and Beersheba, to the parking area at Ben Gurion Airport, and to Tel Aviv.

Due to strong demand, Arkia is also planning additional Taba flights in the coming days from Rome, Larnaca, Bucharest, and Sofia.

{Matzav.com}