Against a backdrop of tightening restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport and a severe seat shortage, airlines are continuing to adjust their strategies ahead of Passover. Alongside flights operating at limited capacity, alternative departure options from Israel are now opening via Aqaba in Jordan and Taba in Egypt, though at high prices and under more restrictive conditions.
At the same time, flight schedules continue to shrink. Israir said Thursday it is canceling its original schedule through the end of March and freezing ticket sales through the end of April.
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Aqaba Airport: a creative solution, but far from cheap
(Photo: Keleny / Shutterstock)
For example, Arkia announced Thursday special flights to three European destinations — Bucharest, Vienna and Tivat in Montenegro — via Aqaba’s airport and operated by foreign crews. According to the company, fares will start at $599 one-way and include a full checked bag. However, a Ynet review found round-trip tickets priced at about $1,174 that do not include carry-on luggage beyond a backpack.
Meanwhile, other airlines are increasing flights from Egypt. Blue Bird Airways is offering flights from Taba to Heraklion, Crete, between March 31 and April 6 for $698 round trip, as well as flights to Budapest starting at $595. TUS Airways is offering flights from Taba to Larnaca and Rome starting at about $598 per ticket, without carry-on luggage beyond a basic personal item.
Arkia said its flights will operate daily between March 26 and April 11 via Fly Lili, as part of preparations for high holiday demand. The starting price includes transportation from the Aqaba border crossing to the airport, a checked suitcase and a carry-on trolley, as well as transit permits, in an effort to enable Israelis to travel for Passover despite restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport.
These alternatives come amid an acute seat shortage and a sharp rise in prices driven by stricter limits on operations at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international gateway. Reduced passenger caps per flight and widespread cancellations have left thousands of Israelis without travel options for the holiday, pushing more travelers to seek alternative routes through neighboring countries despite higher costs and inconvenience.
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Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Airports Authority CEO in the duty-free area
(Photo: Israel Airports Authority)
Israir said it is canceling the flight schedule planned before the war through March 31, inclusive, and suspending ticket sales through the end of April. The airline said that due to limits on passenger numbers per flight, seat availability is significantly lower than demand. It will attempt to rebook affected passengers, but noted that it may not be able to accommodate all requests. Passengers were offered a choice between a full refund and a voucher worth 130% of the original booking.
Amid the developments, the Transportation Ministry said Wednesday it would again tighten restrictions on outbound flights from Ben Gurion Airport after interception debris struck several private aircraft on the airfield. Under the decision, wide-body aircraft will be limited to about 130 passengers — a sharp reduction from levels approved just days earlier — while narrow-body aircraft will remain capped at up to 120 passengers per flight.
El Al also announced it is canceling about 25,000 tickets for flights scheduled between March 21 and March 27 to a wide range of destinations, including London, Paris, Barcelona, New York and Boston. The airline said it is currently unable to offer alternative flights to most passengers, who are eligible for a full refund or a voucher for future use.