Open Air

From USA Today:
"FAA lifts ban on flights to and from Israel"

The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its prohibition on U.S. airlines flying into and out of Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Wednesday, the agency announced it had extended the ban a second day and it was expected to wait until midday Thursday to decide whether or not to extend it further.  The FAA decided to lift the flight restrictions effective 11:45 p.m. ET, however, after it "carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation," according to a statement posted on the agency's website. The flight ban was initiated after a rocket struck near the airport Tuesday and the FAA says it will "continue to closely monitor the very fluid situation around Ben Gurion Airport and will take additional actions as necessary."  While the ban was in effect, Israeli airport and tourism officials insisted that planes could land safely. British Airways and El Al were among the airlines that continued to fly into Tel Aviv despite the rocket strike. Even with the ban lifted, airlines must decide when to resume flights. Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta Air Lines, which diverted a flight Tuesday headed from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tel Aviv, told CNBC the airline made its decision before the FAA acted. "We have a much higher duty of care, and we've got to make the right decisions for the flight attendants, customers and pilots on our flights," Anderson said.

Israel gets more visitors from the United States than any other country. Of 3.5 million visitors last year, 623,000 were Americans, according to Israel's Ministry of Tourism.

^ This was clearly an example of being overly cautious. I can't understand both sides (Israeli's stance to continue on and the rest of the world's stance of fleeing.) It really shows that if places like: Moscow, London, Berlin, Toronto, New York, LA, etc were bombed the way Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are the world wouldn't be able to handle it with the dignity and continuity of daily life like the Israelis constantly show us. ^

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/07/24/israel-flight-ban/13082351/