El Al Israel Airlines (TASE:ELAL) charter subsidiary Sun D'or International Airlines has announced the suspension of flights to Antalya, Turkey, until further notice, due to a dispute with the Turkish authorities over security arrangements.
This is the second time in recent months that Israeli security authorities have had a dispute with the Turkish authorities over El Al flights. Several months ago, El Al suspended flights to Istanbul for two weeks, due to a dispute over security arrangements. That dispute was about Israeli security guards carrying arms at the Istanbul Airport.
Foreign airlines are continuing flights to Antalya as usual. Israeli tourist agencies report that Antalya tourist package deals have not been affected, despite the dispute.
Sun D'Or cancelled a flight from Antalya to Israel on Saturday evening, switching passengers to a Turkish charter airline.
Sun D'or director Arnon Asherov said, "We cannot continue flying to Antalya under the current circumstances of uncertainty. Sun D'Or and tourism wholesalers will find suitable solutions for passengers and none will be affected."
El Al is meanwhile continuing its Istanbul flights as usual.
Sun D'Or operates three weekly flights to and from Antalya. Today and Thursday's flights have been cancelled, and the fate of next Saturday night's flight is uncertain.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 12, 2004