JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel’s flag carrier EL AL welcomed the decision to gradually reopen Ben-Gurion Airport and announced Tuesday that it has completed extensive preparations to resume operations and repatriate customers stranded abroad amid the recent conflict with Iran.

The airline stated it is fully ready to launch recovery flights to bring Israelis back home, prioritizing those affected by earlier cancellations.

Starting Tuesday evening, EL AL will proactively assign seats on return flights to customers currently overseas based on their original ticket dates, at no extra cost. The process will proceed in an organized, phased manner from more than 20 international gateways, with priority given to exceptional humanitarian and medical cases.

EL AL emphasized that it will contact affected customers directly for assignments. The airline’s customer service center will not handle flight placements.

Operations will follow guidelines from relevant authorities and adhere to published landing limitations at Ben-Gurion Airport.

The airline plans to provide ongoing updates as developments unfold and in line with official directives. Real-time information is available on EL AL’s website and social media channels.

The announcement comes as Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary international gateway, prepares for a limited resumption of inbound flights, potentially starting as early as Thursday in phases, according to recent reports from transportation officials. The airspace closure followed the escalation of hostilities, stranding tens of thousands of Israelis abroad.

EL AL and other Israeli carriers have coordinated with the government to facilitate the repatriation effort, with flights initially focused on arrivals to minimize risks during the gradual reopening.