Virgin Atlantic has put back a return to Israel until September.

The route from Heathrow had been due to restart from March 30. 

But the carrier said: “Due to the ongoing situation in Israel, we have taken the difficult decision to extend our pause on flying to and from Tel Aviv up to and including 4 September 2024.”

Virgin Atlantic added: “The safety and security of our customers and our people are our number one priority and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review. 

“We would advise anyone booked to travel to check their flight status on the website before travelling to the airport.”

One of two daily frequencies to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport had already been dropped for the rest of the year.

The disclosure came despite rival British Airways announcing the resumption of Heathrow-Tel Aviv flights with a reduced schedule of four flights a week from April 1.

Foreign airlines have been gradually returning to Tel Aviv after flights were suspended after the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict last autumn.

A Wizz Air connection from Luton airport is due to return from March 1 while Ryanair has restarted links to Tel Aviv from Austria, France, Germany and Italy.

EasyJet’s suspension of flights to the Israeli gateway city continues to be reviewed on a regular basis.