Arkia Faces Lawsuits Over Canceled Flights to Japan

Israeli airline Arkia is facing two class-action lawsuits filed by customers whose direct flights to Japan were canceled. The lawsuits allege that Arkia sold tickets to thousands of Israelis for flights that had not yet received authorization from Japanese authorities, without informing the buyers. The first lawsuit was filed on October 16 in the Central District Court by a plaintiff represented by lawyers Adam Levin, Yonatan Rapoport, and Roi Biton. This filing claims Arkia sold tickets for a route that existed only in theory, despite announcing the new destination to Japan several months prior. The plaintiffs assert that Arkia did not disclose the lack of necessary permits from Japanese authorities, even while negotiating them, and sold tickets for flights that were not yet approved. Passengers had already made travel plans, including booking hotels and planning itineraries. The airline initially canceled a few flights before notifying all other passengers, sometimes just weeks before their scheduled departure. The lawsuit claims Arkia delayed notifications until the last possible moment to avoid legally mandated compensation for cancellations.

Arkia has denied the allegations, stating that the company has not yet received the lawsuit but will review and respond once it does. The airline "completely rejects the accusations" and maintains it has acted and will continue to act according to established procedures. Arkia expressed hope to begin flights to Japan soon, as it continues to engage with relevant authorities. A second class-action lawsuit, also concerning canceled Japan flights, was filed against Arkia International by lawyer Moriya Shalev, alleging "air dreams and false promises."

A class-action lawsuit allows a court to handle a case on behalf of a group of affected individuals, rather than just the initial plaintiff. If approved, the company would be liable to the entire group defined by the court. Passengers are typically included automatically unless they opt out. Any compensation awarded would be distributed among eligible group members, pending the court's final decision.