Arkia Cancels Direct Flights to Tokyo Due to Japanese Regulations
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli airline Arkia has canceled its initial direct flights to Tokyo, scheduled for late October and early November 2026, due to Japan's refusal to allow wet-leased aircraft. The airline is offering passengers affected by the cancellations three options: a flight with an intermediate stop, rebooking to another destination with a discount, or a full refund. Arkia is continuing efforts to gain approval for the route using its own planes and apologized for the inconvenience.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arkia canceled its first direct flights to Tokyo because Japan denied approval for wet-leased aircraft.
- The initial flights affected are scheduled for October 25 and 28, and November 1 and 5, 2026.
- Passengers can choose between a flight with an intermediate stop, rebooking with a discount, or a full refund.
- Arkia is working with Japanese authorities to operate the route with its own planes.
- A dedicated email address has been set up for affected passengers seeking assistance.
Israeli airline Arkia has announced a significant delay in the launch of its direct route to Tokyo, originally slated to begin on October 25th. The cancellation stems from a refusal by Japanese authorities to approve the operation of flights using a wet lease model, a practice Arkia employs on other international routes. Despite months of efforts, Japan has not permitted the use of leased aircraft for this specific service.
Consequently, the initial flights scheduled for October 25 and 28, and November 1 and 5, 2026, will not proceed as planned. Arkia emphasized that this change only affects passengers booked for these specific dates; those with later bookings are not required to make any adjustments at this time. The airline continues to work with Japanese officials to secure approval for operating the route with its own fleet, hoping for a resolution in the coming weeks.
To mitigate the impact on affected passengers, Arkia is offering three alternative solutions. Passengers can opt for a flight to Tokyo via an intermediate stop in Bangkok or Hanoi, with Arkia managing the entire journey. Alternatively, they can rebook to another Arkia destination with a 10% discount on the new ticket price. A full refund is also available for those who wish to cancel their booking entirely.
Arkia has established a dedicated email address, Flytokyo@arkia.co.il, for passengers who booked directly and require personalized assistance. The airline stated, "The company is not giving up on operating the direct route to Tokyo and continues to work with all relevant parties to enable its operation as soon as possible." Arkia also extended its sincere apologies to passengers for the uncertainty and inconvenience caused, acknowledging the anticipation for travel to Japan and the significance of travel plan changes.
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