Battles not grounding flyers heading to Tel Aviv

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, many airlines in the U.S. and Canada have cancelled flights flying to Tel Aviv after it was reported that a rocket exploded near the Israeli city’s airport yesterday.

The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration has just extended a ban for American flights for another 24 hours. As well Air Canada grounded flights leaving Pearson for Tel Aviv last night and this morning.

One airline, El Al departed for Tel Aviv Wednesday afternoon. CHCH’s Sean Leathong spoke to a number of passengers before they left about whether they’re feeling nervous.

Aviva Plc-Nseiri says the expects everything to be fine, while Maya Bordan admits it’s in the back of her head that something could go wrong. “(We’re) confident that our program has lots of security, and they’re going to protect us as well as they can.”

Noah Guttman was more blunt: “No. I’m not worried.”

“It seems like everyday life is going on in Israel, and I feel like there might have been a mistake made on the Americans’ part when the FAA cancelled all flights going to Israel.”

Today’s El Al flight is on a 767, carrying about 200 passengers.

Air Canada has cancelled its last 3 Toronto-Tel Aviv flights.