JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israel plans to reopen its airspace for outbound flights starting Sunday, Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced Thursday, as the country continues a phased recovery of civilian aviation amid ongoing security concerns.

“After assessing the situation, we have made the decision to open the skies starting Sunday for outbound flights, subject to security developments,” Regev said in a statement. “We will update throughout the day.”

The announcement follows the recent resumption of inbound repatriation flights at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Israel’s main gateway, which began Thursday after several days of complete airspace closure due to regional tensions.

The first rescue flights carrying stranded Israelis landed earlier Thursday, including an El Al flight from Athens and an Israir flight from Rome, with additional arrivals expected from carriers Arkia and others.

Regev’s statement emphasizes that outbound operations remain conditional on the evolving security situation. Details on the number of flights, destinations or exact schedule were not immediately provided, though earlier reports indicated limited capacity during the initial phases of reopening.

The phased approach prioritizes bringing home tens of thousands of Israelis stuck abroad following the airspace shutdown. Inbound flights have operated under strict restrictions, with planes departing empty after unloading passengers.

Israeli airlines, including El Al, have coordinated with authorities to facilitate the repatriation effort. El Al has suspended regular ticket sales through late March to accommodate affected passengers on recovery flights.

Further updates on outbound flight operations are expected as security officials continue assessments.