Arkia Cancels Flights to Phuket Amid Ownership Battle
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Arkia Airlines is canceling its flights to Phuket, Thailand, effective January 2027, due to Israeli security directives. This decision coincides with a battle for the airline's ownership, where employee representatives are seeking an alternative buyer. Businessman Ezra Unger has expressed interest in purchasing Arkia, proposing to cease Saturday flights as a condition.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arkia Airlines will cancel flights to Phuket, Thailand, starting January 2027 due to security directives.
- The flight cancellations occur amidst a contested ownership battle for the airline.
- Employee representatives are attempting to secure a counter-offer from new investors.
- Businessman Ezra Unger is interested in buying Arkia, with a condition to stop Saturday flights.
- The security directive specifically prohibits Israeli airlines from operating chartered flights to Phuket.
Arkia Airlines will cancel its flights to Phuket, Thailand, starting in January 2027, citing security directives from Israeli authorities. The announcement comes as the airline faces a critical juncture in its ownership transition. Employee representatives are currently meeting with additional investors to formulate a counter-offer to the existing deal with the Nakash brothers, who have agreed to purchase the company. They have until tomorrow afternoon to submit this alternative proposal.
One of the interested parties is Haredi businessman Ezra Unger, who has previously considered acquiring Arkia and has now proposed a purchase with the condition that the airline cease all flights on Saturdays. Under Unger's proposal, employees would retain their shares in the company.
The cancellation of the Phuket flights is due to Israeli security services prohibiting Israeli airlines from operating chartered flights to the destination from January 2027. Arkia currently operates its Phuket route using chartered aircraft, necessitating the cancellation. The airline stated that passengers with existing bookings will be individually notified about available solutions and alternatives, emphasizing that this security decision applies solely to the Phuket route.
