Mauritius Denies Landing to Israeli Flight, Citing Political Reasons

A planned flight from Israel to Mauritius operated by Air Seychelles was canceled today after the island nation refused to grant the aircraft landing permission. The flight's organizer, Spirit Productions, stated that efforts to secure the necessary approval were unsuccessful, and the Mauritian authorities maintained their refusal. Spirit Productions suggested that the decision may stem from political and מדיני (political-diplomatic) considerations.

Passengers booked on the flight received notification of the cancellation, disrupting their vacation plans. Spirit Productions emphasized that while they marketed the flight, Air Seychelles was the operating carrier responsible for the cancellation. The company is now working with Air Seychelles and relevant tourism bodies to gather full details and explore options for affected passengers.

According to Spirit Productions, all necessary approvals for the flight had been obtained months in advance, and the designated aircraft was ready at Ben Gurion Airport. Despite this, the landing permit for Mauritius was not granted, leading to the cancellation. The company is committed to assisting passengers and will provide updates on the situation.

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 have no connection to political disputes. Yetiv reiterated the company's efforts to resolve the issue and support the passengers.

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 policies. The Mauritius situation adds to a pattern of instances where Israeli travelers are impacted by decisions made far from the flight path, even after flights are planned and initial approvals secured.