Arkia Cancels Flights to Phuket Amid Security Directives and Ownership Change
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Arkia Airlines is canceling its flights to Phuket, Thailand, starting January 2027, due to Israeli security service directives. This decision follows recent cancellations of flights to Tokyo and Marrakech and occurs during a sensitive ownership transition for the airline. Employees are seeking alternative investors to prevent dilution of their shares in the company.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arkia Airlines cancels flights to Phuket starting January 2027 due to Israeli security directives.
- The airline is undergoing a controlling stake sale to investors including Kidhan Dahari, Yaron Adib, and Yariv Lerner.
- Employees fear share dilution and have a deadline to find alternative investors.
- Arkia has recently canceled or suspended flights to Tokyo and Marrakech.
- The company is set to receive a $45 million capital injection as part of the sale.
Arkia Airlines will cancel its flights to Phuket, Thailand, starting in January 2027, following directives from Israeli security services. The airline stated that the instructions prohibit Israeli carriers from operating chartered flights to the destination. Passengers with existing bookings will be informed about alternative arrangements.
The cancellation follows a series of international route changes and cancellations by Arkia in recent months. In October, the company announced the cancellation of planned direct flights to Tokyo after Japanese authorities did not approve operating the route with a wet-leased aircraft and crew. Flights to Marrakech, Morocco, were also suspended due to Israeli security directives. The Phuket route, launched only last July, is now added to this list.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time for Arkia, as the Nakash brothers recently signed an agreement to sell their controlling stake in the company to an investor group led by Kidhan Dahari, Yaron Adib, and Yariv Lerner. This deal includes a $45 million capital injection into Arkia.
However, employees, who hold approximately 22% of the company's shares through the T.U.T. corporation, are concerned about a dilution of their holdings. A deadline for employees to find alternative investors is set to expire soon. Under the agreement, employees were given three business days to secure investors who could match the terms of the current deal, aiming to preserve their stakes and positions within the company. They are reportedly in talks with several potential investors.
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