JERUSALEM, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel's national airline El Al announced on Thursday that it will resume flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow starting May 1, following a security assessment and discussions with Russian authorities to ensure flight safety.

The airline suspended flights to the Russian capital in late December 2024, citing "developments in Russian airspace" as the reason for the move.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News channel reported that the suspension of flights was influenced by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airports, including those in Moscow, as well as the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan while en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia.

In its latest statement, the airline said the decision to restore the route is part of its broader strategy to expand operations along key flight paths. The resumed service will include seven weekly flights to the Russian capital.

Meanwhile, the Israel Airport Authority announced in a separate statement that on May 1, El Al will also resume domestic flights between Tel Aviv and the southernmost Red Sea resort city of Eilat, after a 12-year hiatus. Enditem