The Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia (Rosaviatsia) has once again extended restrictions on night flights to Israel for Russian airlines. According to the agency's decision, flights to this country are prohibited from 1:00 to 7:00 Moscow time - that is, from midnight to 6:00 Israel time - until April 11, 2025. This was reported by Israel's Channel 9, citing official sources in the Russian aviation industry. The ban, initially introduced in November 2024, is being renewed for the fourth time, despite the absence of obvious military threats in the region. 

Experts cite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East as a possible reason for the next extension of the restrictions, in particular, the recent statements by Yemeni Houthis about their intention to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea. Although the Houthis have not yet announced missile strikes on Israeli territory, their threats could have influenced the risk assessment of Rosaviatsia. At the same time, the military confrontation between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, which was one of the reasons for the initial ban, ended with a convincing victory for the Israeli army back in late 2024, and the likelihood of attacks from Iran is also currently considered low. 

In practice, the ban affects only two Russian airlines - Azimuth and Red Wings, which operate flights to Tel Aviv from Mineralnye Vody, Sochi and Makhachkala on Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Tu-214 aircraft. The restriction of night slots forces carriers to adjust their schedules, which may lead to higher ticket prices and reduced convenience for passengers.

According to Interfax, the ban on night flights was first introduced on November 11, 2024, following the escalation in the Middle East associated with shelling of Israel by Iran and its allies. Since then, the restrictions have been extended every month, which experts attribute to Moscow's cautious position in the unstable geopolitical situation. As RIA Novosti reports, in February 2025, the department extended the ban until March 11, and has now postponed the deadline for another month. At the same time, the Israeli authorities have not introduced similar restrictions and Ben Gurion Airport continues to receive international flights as usual. 

Analysts note that Rosaviatsia’s decision may be dictated not only by current threats, but also by the desire to minimize any risks to civil aviation amid ongoing sanctions against Russia.