Arkia Flight from Montenegro to Tel Aviv Canceled After Five-Hour Delay and Passenger Frustration

Passengers on an Arkia flight from Montenegro to Tel Aviv experienced a frustrating ordeal on August 3, 2026, when their flight was delayed for about five hours at the airport terminal before being abruptly canceled. According to passenger Milan Retpen-Schnitzer, there was no clear communication from Arkia during the wait, and attempts to get information from the airline, especially since tickets were purchased through a travel agent, were unsuccessful. Passengers were left waiting on the floor in the heat without any Arkia representatives present.

One passenger received an SMS notification about the cancellation only after leaving the airport. A local official eventually informed passengers to collect their luggage and proceed to a hotel, with the rescheduled flight planned for the following morning. Despite the chaos, Arkia did not have any staff at the airport during the delay, and even their Israeli office was unable to provide updates.

Arkia responded that the flight had to divert to Tirana Airport due to weather conditions and air traffic congestion in Tivat, which caused a significant delay. The flight crew reached their maximum allowed working hours under safety regulations, making it impossible to operate the return flight to Israel. Arkia stated that all 102 passengers were provided with hotel accommodations, transportation, meals, and full information about their rights. The airline also noted that the passenger who complained had booked through a travel agent, whose failure to share contact details complicated communication. Arkia apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized that such events are sometimes beyond their control but that they strive to assist passengers promptly.