TOURISM

The airline's absence from Israel now clearly illustrates the heart of the debate surrounding the establishment of the hub, with Israeli airlines left shouldering the burden of war.

Uri Sirkis tells “Globes” about the rescue operation for stranded Israelis, why Israir has lost money on it, and how Wizz Air has been unable to shoulder the burden of the war.

easyJet is the first foreign carrier to cancel flights to Israel for a long period, since Israeli airspace was closed on February 28 at the start of the war with Iran.

Only one siren has sounded so far in the Negev town as thousands of Israelis have flocked south to escape the war.

One-way fares on El Al are far cheaper than on the equivalent flights operated by the carrier's smaller Israeli rivals.

The rescue flights, which began on Thursday, are now allowed to fly passengers out of Israel but on a limited basis.

The first two rescue flights landed at Ben Gurion airport this morning - an El Al flight from Athens and an Israir flight from Rome.

According to the IAA, between February 28 and March 3, roughly 10,000 Israelis entered the country through the land crossings, while15,000 left Israel through the same crossings.

Rescue flights will begin early Thursday and it will take 7-10 days to bring home over 100,000 Israelis stranded abroad.

The Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has increased the frequency of flights to Sharm el-Sheikh to provide European and Israeli passengers with an alternative to reaching Israel.

Israeli airlines will begin rescue flights when Ben Gurion airport reopens. Meanwhile Arkia is operating flights from Taba to and from Europe.

Arkia is operating flights between Taba and Athens.

The stronger shekel, the war with Iran and the gradual return of foreign airlines all adversely affected the Israeli airline’s results.

After being fined by the Israel Competition Authority for price gouging during the war, the airline is now in hot water for allegedly denying Arkia hangar services.

While the Irish low-cost airline has no plans to return to Israel, other carriers have introduced flights on Ryanair’s former Tel Aviv routes.

In addition to the new routes to Malaga, Ibiza, Vilnius and Lithuania, the Israeli airline will introduce business class for the first time in its history.

The Israeli carrier says it has entered an expansion phase after focusing on core destinations in Europe, North America and Asia since the start of the war in October 2023.

Until February 28, the flights will stop in Athens to change crews.

Israel Canada will pay NIS 142 million for 50% stakes in the Galilion and Kfar Giladi hotels.

An investigation by the Israel Competition Authority found that fares rose by an average of 16% during the war, with some routes recording sharper increases of up to 31%.

The Nakash brothers are negotiating to sell control of the Israeli airline to Elliot Zemel.

Israir CEO Uri Sirkis and Ministry of Transport Senior Deputy Director General Or Libis clashed over the issue at the Globes Infrastructures of the Future Conference organized in cooperation with Bank Hapoalim.

The Dutch airline's return flights to Amsterdam will land in Paphos to take on a relief crew.

Following an increase in demand from passengers, El Al, Israir and Arkia have introduced temporary flexibility in their policies for customers wishing to cancel and postpone flights.

Due to the current regional tensions, the move allows air crews to operate without having to stay overnight in Israel.

Wenrix, which has developed a platform based on flight fare prediction algorithms and optimizing booking procedures, is being acquired for up to $300 million.

The dividend being distributed is expected to amount to about $100 million, or approximately $0.18 per share.

TUS IL is due to start commercial operations at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The Israel Competition Authority has completed its investigation into the airline’s fare policies during the war and will issue an intent to charge letter.

“Globes” can reveal that the first route from Ramon airport that the Hungarian low-cost airline plans will be to Budapest.