Israeli Airlines Halt Marrakech Flights Amid Security Review

Direct flights from Israel to Marrakech have been largely suspended due to security concerns, impacting the plans of major Israeli carriers. Sun d'Or, a subsidiary of El Al, announced it is postponing the launch of its route to the Moroccan city by at least a month, awaiting necessary security approvals. This decision follows similar moves by Arkia and Israir, which have already halted ticket sales for the destination.

Sun d'Or's route was scheduled to commence in mid-November with two weekly flights, priced from approximately $600 round-trip for a basic ticket. All flights planned until mid-December have now been canceled. While the airline is in constant contact with authorities, a new launch date remains undetermined and contingent on receiving approval. El Al is offering affected passengers full refunds, credit vouchers, or rebooking on flights to European destinations within the group at no extra cost, provided the travel dates are within three days of the original booking and subject to availability.

Before this halt, Israeli airlines had planned up to seven weekly flights to Marrakech during the winter season, covering five days of the week. Arkia resumed direct flights in August after a three-year hiatus with two weekly services, while Israir intended to increase its frequency to three weekly flights. Marrakech was considered a lucrative market for Israeli companies due to minimal competition from foreign airlines on direct routes.

The security review was triggered by an incident on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv in late September, where a co-pilot attacked the captain. This event prompted a reassessment of security arrangements for flights involving foreign aircraft and crews operating to and from Israel. Israir was the first to react by freezing its expansion plans and stopping ticket sales, followed by Arkia, which also ceased ticket sales at the request of security officials.

Arkia has prior experience with delayed launches due to regulatory issues, as seen with its Tokyo route, which was postponed after Japanese authorities denied approval for a leased aircraft and crew. This situation highlights the risks of early ticket sales for new routes when permits can change rapidly. El Al's financial impact is expected to be limited, as the Marrakech route represented a small portion of its overall operations, and aircraft can be redirected to other European destinations with high winter demand. However, for Sun d'Or, Marrakech was intended to be a flagship leisure route for the season. The offer to rebook passengers to Europe also helps retain revenue within the El Al group.

Despite the suspension of direct flights, travel to Morocco is still possible via connecting flights through European cities, though this is a longer and more expensive option. Israeli passport holders are required to obtain an electronic entry permit in advance. Uncertainty also persists regarding Israeli airlines' flights to the United Arab Emirates, as an agreement meeting security requirements has yet to be reached.