Arkia Temporarily Halts Flights to Baku, Affecting Travelers
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli airline Arkia is temporarily suspending its flights to Baku, Azerbaijan, starting mid-November, with services expected to resume in March 2027. No official reason was given for the halt, which leaves Israir and Azerbaijan Airlines as the only direct flight providers. This follows Arkia's recent delays to Tokyo and a halt on ticket sales to Marrakech due to security directives.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Arkia is temporarily suspending flights to Baku, Azerbaijan, starting mid-November.
- Flights are expected to resume in March 2027, with one-way fares starting at $103.
- Israir and Azerbaijan Airlines are the remaining direct flight options to Baku.
- Arkia recently delayed its Tokyo route and halted ticket sales to Marrakech.
Israeli airline Arkia has announced a temporary suspension of its flights to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, effective mid-November. The airline currently operates three weekly flights on this route, scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Arkia stated that the flights are expected to resume in March 2027, with one-way fares starting at $103.
The company has not provided an official reason for the suspension. This decision leaves Israeli travelers with limited direct flight options to Baku.
During the winter months when Arkia will not be flying, one-way ticket prices on Israir range from $114 to nearly $300. Azerbaijan Airlines' fares start at $121 and can exceed $320 for a single trip. AZAL offers a higher frequency of flights, with approximately three daily flights seven days a week, compared to Israir's five weekly flights. Additionally, AZAL's base fare includes a carry-on bag up to 10 kg and a personal item, while Israir's base fare only includes a small personal bag.
This suspension follows other recent disruptions for Arkia. The airline recently reported a significant delay in launching its direct route to Tokyo due to Japan's refusal to approve flights operating under a wet lease arrangement. Arkia's initial flights to Japan, scheduled for late October and early November 2026, have been postponed indefinitely.
Furthermore, Arkia announced last week an immediate halt to ticket sales for flights between Tel Aviv and Marrakech, following a directive from Israeli security officials. The duration of this halt is undetermined, and the company is actively reviewing the situation with relevant authorities.
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