chessman

At least the second message is consistent with what's currently on the timetable and flight status pages on the website (though I suspect it just means BA haven't figured out specifics beyond Saturday).

IAMORGAN

Anyone can say no! �I aint going - fire me!�

DaveS

Yes, unquestionably the right decision was made. It is not a great day for anyone onboard. They found themselves back at T5B 10 hours later and just a few metres from where they started. At least the route is not ET/CE so they had some food on board.

I do wonder what the procedure for the return was though. They have come back through some of the most congested airspace in the world. There would have been a flight plan for later on, but something must have been done to clear the way for them. I am sure some of the knowledgeable frontline people here will know.

Delboy65

2 colleagues were scheduled to return on BA tomorrow
The customer is looking after them but assuming that flights to LCA or via Pegasus to Turkey will be swamped now (tho could be our TA is already on the case) ... any other recommendations??

NWIFlyer

As c-w-s has intimated, this is a really difficult one to give advice on. Something that works now might not in a few hours as airlines formulate their own policies in a rapidly changing, volatile and frankly dangerous situation.

If you have a good corporate TA, they probably have more idea than most as to who might continue to fly in and out of TLV, although the reality is that very few people will have ever had to deal with anything of this magnitude. I wish your colleagues, and everyone else trying to get out, the very best of luck. I can't begin to imagine how frightening this must be for them,with the uncertainty just adding to it.

DaveS

Sitting tight for a few days is likely to be the best option. Otherwise, over land to Eilat and then into Jordan might be possible.

T8191

I did notice today a RAFAIR A400M inbound to TLV. Not everyone gets a choice!

Sigwx

I�m not directly involved in what happened today or the A350, different fleet. However both my fleet and the A350 did round trip cargo only ops during the pandemic, at various points. I don�t know the A350 but as ably described by colleagues here, she is a very capable beast (although I�d never admit that being a Boeing person through and though &#128521. Given what is happening, safety and security are foremost and there are numerous elements that have to be satisfied prior to ops commencing on a day to day basis with sensitive routes. There is an entire team dedicated to this task with very good access to the very relevant elements of intelligence on a safety and security front. We are always in contact with these dedicated elements based in London and can�t leave London without approved methods of contact being available.

There has been an evolving plan and I won�t comment on that here, but yes there would be a skeleton, yet not yet finalised flight plan for the return available to the crew prior to departure. Given the routing is daily and only subject to variation due to weather or airspace issues, it is more or less a stable routing in general, so fitting it into the general airspace picture won�t be the most monumental of tasks. The routing and new operational flight plan can be sent to the crew in various forms whilst in the air and as long as the fuel required is less than that onboard, the operation continues. That is it in a nut shell. A very long, tiring day out for all concerned, and the first and last thought being of nothing more than security and safety at the forefront, but not an overly trying experience in executing the plan so to speak. The experience of being so close, and yet so far, is another experience all together for those passengers onboard.

cauchy

Doubt LY will cancel - they have availability from e.g. CDG tomorrow at 11am.

Wrong direction

salut0

flydubai, Arkia or Emirates TLV-DXB
and then BA from there?

Delboy65

thank you
Am sure our TA is on the case, and our customer, a major global Corp, will assist...
Was just wondering to feed in "suggestions" based on the knowledge of the collective
Do recall the situation due to the volcanic cloud 10-12 years ago, was every man for himself for colleagues visiting not only ISR but also south of France and other destinations

Delboy65

maybe just dropping off a few farmers from Herefordshire ....?

Funky Spike

That was my first thought, The Hereford Gun Club.

Spike

msm2000uk

The media will soon be filled with stories of people on the "flight to nowhere", but I hope they focus less on that aspect and more on the Reservists trying to get back, family members trying to get home, and international passengers flying into Israel to identify their loved ones in both Israel and Gaza.

I'm privy to information not suitable for this forum, but I don't envy anybody directly involved in the logistics side of things. BA will have taken a risk calculation, along with advice from those on the ground. They've made the correct decision in my opinion, but I appreciate them flying a few days longer than certain other airlines.

M

DaveS

Making these arrangements can be very stressful for all those involved. Also very costly. There is then the high risk that flights get cancelled last minute causing even more stress. I have been through this several times and have taken the RAF way out too. Sitting tight always had the best outcome for me. I suspect in the next day or two the situation for flights will improve. If it does not then there will be plans being thought up on how to get people out. It may not be by air, it could be land or sea. The best thing at the moment is not to panic, get a good nights sleep and think things through in the morning in a calm and considered way.