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

Passengers on an Arkia Airlines 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 the airline during the wait, and attempts to get information from Arkia's Israeli office were unsuccessful because she had purchased her ticket through a travel agent. Despite repeated calls, no details were provided, and no Arkia representatives were present at the airport to assist the passengers.

After nearly five hours of waiting in the heat, passengers received SMS notifications that the flight was canceled, some only after leaving the airport. A local staff member eventually informed them to collect their luggage and proceed to a hotel where the airline arranged accommodations, meals, and transportation. However, passengers described the situation at the airport as chaotic, with no Arkia staff available and other flights operating normally. The airline attributed the cancellation to adverse weather conditions and air traffic congestion in Tivat, which forced the plane to divert to Tirana. This delay caused the flight crew to exceed their legally permitted working hours, preventing the return flight to Israel.

Arkia stated that all 102 affected passengers were provided with hotel stays, transfers, meals, and full updates on their rights. The airline also noted that the passenger who complained had booked through a travel agent and that her contact details were not forwarded to Arkia, complicating communication. Arkia apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized that such disruptions are sometimes beyond the airline's control but that they strive to respond quickly and safely to passengers' needs.