Long-term impact of Israel-Hamas conflict on travel ‘still unknown’, Virgin boss warns
Ilaria Grasso MacolaThe long-term impact on travel of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is still unknown, Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss has warned.
Weiss told Bloomberg TV airlines have already felt the consequences after being forced to halt all operations to Israel, added to fuel prices going up owing to uncertainty in the region.
The long-term impact on travel remains unclear, added Weiss, who said it would depend on broader geopolitical implications and fallout from the conflict.
“If Israel can contain its war to the south into Gaza and really take out Hamas, that’s one outcome,” said Weiss on Monday (23 October).
“If, God forbid, it becomes a much more regional conflict, then we don’t know how that is going to impact [travel]. Overall, war in the Middle East is always dampening."
Weiss’s comments come as many travel and tourism companies suspend their operations in the Middle East as the conflict escalates, with thousands of people now understood to have died in both Israel and Palestine.
Virgin Atlantic itself has paused flights to Tel Aviv, as has rival British Airways, along with a number of other airlines including easyJet and Wizz Air.
Just on Monday, MSC Cruises pulled its winter Red Sea programme due to safety concerns, and revised several other itineraries with calls in Israel.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, extending its advisory against all travel to the entire West Bank. Brits are advised not to travel at this time to Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon.
Sign up for weekday travel news and analysis straight to your inbox
Ilaria Grasso Macola
Supplier Directory
Find contacts for 260+ travel suppliers. Type name, company or destination.
Editor's pick
Recommended For You
Latest travel jobs
Travel Consultant - Aberdeen
Store Manager - Southampton
Store Manager - Stockport
Competitions
Upcoming events
TTG Media Limited.
Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 2-6 Boundary Row, London, SE1 8HP
