Mauritius Denies Landing to Israeli Flight Amid Political Dispute

A planned flight from Israel to Mauritius operated by Air Seychelles was canceled after the island nation refused to grant the aircraft landing permission. The flight, scheduled to depart on the day of the report, was called off after last-minute efforts to secure the necessary authorization failed.

Spirit Productions, the company that marketed the flight, stated that they were informed the denial was likely due to political and מדיני (political-state) considerations. The company emphasized that all required approvals had been obtained months prior, and the aircraft was ready. Spirit Productions is now working with Air Seychelles and relevant tourism bodies to find solutions for the affected passengers.

Tali Yetiv, CEO of Spirit Productions, expressed regret over the decision, particularly if it was politically motivated. She highlighted that such actions directly harm Israeli travelers who are uninvolved in political decisions. The company is committed to assisting passengers and obtaining full information.

This incident is not the first time an Israeli flight has faced landing restrictions due to political reasons. In June 2026, an Israir flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia, was diverted to Zagreb, Croatia, reportedly due to political opposition to Israeli government policy. The Mauritius situation adds to a pattern of Israeli travelers being impacted by distant political decisions, even after flights are planned and initial approvals are granted.