With thousands of American citizens whose return flights to the United States have been canceled due to the war now stranded in Israel, beginning next week, special flights will soon be offered to help them return home, El Al announced today.

Under a new arrangement between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and Israel’s national airline EL AL, the carrier will begin operating a series of special nonstop flights from Tel Aviv to New York City beginning March 16. The flights are being designated exclusively for American citizens seeking to return to the United States.

Six flights are currently scheduled and are expected to depart at full capacity, pending required government approvals, according to the airline.

Beginning Sunday morning, EL AL said it will proactively contact American citizens who hold valid EL AL tickets for flights that were canceled and who have not yet been reassigned to new departures. Those passengers will be offered seats on the special flights at no additional cost.

The airline is also asking all customers who hold American citizenship to complete a registration form on its website to assist with coordinating seating on the dedicated flights.

Officials said the current schedule represents only a partial solution to the surge in demand from Americans seeking to leave Israel amid the regional conflict.

EL AL said it is prepared to expand the number of dedicated flights for U.S. citizens if additional government approvals are granted.

The special flights come as thousands of Americans remain in Israel following widespread disruptions to commercial air travel triggered by the war with Iran, leaving many travelers scrambling for available routes home.