Arkia Cancels Inaugural Tel Aviv-Tokyo Flights Due to Japanese Permit Issues
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israeli airline Arkia has canceled its initial direct flights from Tel Aviv to Tokyo, scheduled for late October and early November, due to Japanese authorities denying permits for a leased aircraft. The airline is offering passengers rebooking with layovers, a discounted change of destination, or a full refund. Arkia is seeking permits for its own aircraft, but a new launch date is uncertain, leaving El Al as the sole direct carrier on the route.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arkia canceled its first direct Tel Aviv-Tokyo flights due to Japanese permit denial.
- The cancellations affect flights scheduled for late October and early November.
- Passengers can rebook with layovers, change destinations, or get a refund.
- Arkia is seeking permits for its own aircraft but faces an uncertain launch date.
- El Al remains the only airline offering direct flights between Israel and Japan.
Israeli airline Arkia has announced the cancellation of its first direct flights from Tel Aviv to Tokyo, which were scheduled to commence in late October and early November. The cancellations are due to a refusal by Japanese authorities to grant permission for flights using a leased aircraft and crew, according to Walla. The affected flights include those planned for October 25 and 28, and November 1 and 5. Passengers with tickets for later dates are not yet required to change their bookings. Arkia is offering affected passengers three options: rebooking to Tokyo with a layover in Bangkok or Hanoi, changing their destination with a 10% discount on a new ticket, or receiving a full refund. The airline stated it has been seeking the necessary permits from Japanese authorities for several months. Arkia is also exploring the possibility of operating the route with its own aircraft and hopes to secure Japanese approval in the coming weeks, though a specific launch date for direct service remains unknown. This situation leaves El Al as the sole carrier operating direct flights between Israel and Japan. Arkia's entry into the market was anticipated to increase competition and potentially lower ticket prices.
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