Arkia Cancels Direct Flights to Phuket Due to Security Directives

By מערכת ice

Translated & summarized from Ice by baba

BusinessNeutral tone

Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

Arkia Airlines is canceling its direct flights to Phuket, Thailand, starting January 2027, due to new Israeli security directives prohibiting chartered flights to the destination. The airline, currently undergoing ownership changes, will offer alternatives to affected passengers. This follows recent disruptions to Arkia's routes to Tokyo and Marrakech due to similar aviation and security restrictions.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Arkia will cancel direct flights to Phuket from January 2027 due to Israeli security directives.
Israeli airlines will be prohibited from operating chartered flights to Phuket starting January 2027.
Passengers with existing bookings for early 2027 will be contacted with alternative solutions.
The Nakash brothers, Arkia's owners, are selling a controlling stake to new investors.
Businessman Ezra Unger has made a rival bid to acquire Arkia.
Arkia has recently faced similar issues with routes to Tokyo and Marrakech.

Arkia Airlines will cancel its direct flights to Phuket, Thailand, starting in January 2027, following new directives from Israeli security officials. The airline operates its Phuket route using chartered aircraft, which will be prohibited for Israeli carriers flying to the destination from that date.

The cancellation affects passengers who have already booked tickets for early 2027. Arkia has stated that affected passengers will be contacted personally with information on available solutions and alternatives, though specific options have not yet been detailed. The airline's direct flights to Bangkok will continue to operate as normal, as they are not included in the new security guidelines.

The move occurs during a turbulent period for Arkia. The company's owners, the Nakash brothers, recently signed an agreement to bring in a new group of investors who will become the controlling shareholders. Concurrently, businessman Ezra Unger has submitted an alternative offer to purchase the airline, which includes a demand to cease flights on Saturdays. These ownership changes are facing opposition from the company's employees.

This is not the first time Arkia has had to alter its flight plans recently. Last month, the launch of its direct route to Tokyo was postponed due to Japan's authorities not approving the operation of a leased aircraft. Additionally, security restrictions have forced changes to operations on other routes, including to Marrakech, Morocco.

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