“They threw us like dogs”: the flight to Israel was cancelled

Thousands of Israelis find themselves stranded abroad on Rosh Hashanah Eve due to extensive flight cancellations caused by the war. As the holiday approached, many Israelis planned to return home to celebrate with their families, but recent events, led by the missile attack from Iran, led to significant disruption in flights to and from Israel. Airlines Many flights were forced to be canceled, leaving passengers stranded in various destinations around the world, including the Israeli airlines, which many of the passengers chose to fly with in order to avoid the current situation.In the meantime, the largest airline in Israel, El Al, had to cancel several flights and informed customers that “following the recent security events that create uncertainty in the aviation industry and among foreign companies, changes are expected in some of the flights that will be operated on a wet lease for Sun Dor, for flights that will take off before the beginning of Rosh Hashanah this year”. A number of El Al flights were indeed cancelled, including flight LY5127 from Tel Aviv to Paphos, flight LY5136 from Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv and flight LY5164 from Porto to Tel Aviv landing in Larnaca.

Also, hundreds of Israelis are stuck for almost a whole day at the airport in Larnaca. They were supposed to board an Arkia flight, but it was canceled due to the situation. According to the passengers, beyond the cancellation notice no contact was made between the representatives and the passengers. “We have been stuck since yesterday at six o’clock in the evening at the airport in Larnaca and there is no one to talk to. No representative of the company has spoken to us. They left us without water, without food and without worrying about providing us with accommodation,” says E. one of the passengers. “They threw us out like dogs and left. There is no one to talk to. Some of us will spend the holiday at the airport. Not everyone has money for hotels, not to mention that there are no flights to Israel at all and renting a private plane is an expensive business.”

According to messages received by the passengers, the Arkia company informed the passengers today that the flight to Israel will take off this evening at 18:40 but announced that the flight is canceled without finding a solution. “It’s a shame and disgrace how an Israeli airline behaves towards its passengers. They canceled the flight without finding a solution for us. No representative spoke to us. We sent us a message to Akuni and that’s it. With that, the company has finished its duty towards us,” says Dana, “Some passengers are trying to find alternative flights Without success or arrange a private plane for 800 dollars per passenger. The problem is that not everyone has the means. Others will probably return to the hotels and stay in Larnaca on the eve of the holiday.”

Even a generation returning from a trip to Europe claims that the Arkia company has no answer and that all the passengers are confused. “Absolute chaos. Thousands of Israelis are stuck here waiting for a rescue flight. Even if Arkia flies us out of here soon, it’s still a shame for this company. Arkia’s conduct is below all expectations, what’s going on with them is really a disgrace. Beg the citizens of the country who are stuck abroad in the middle of the war.”

The passengers took off yesterday from Athens, the capital of Greece, to Larnaca in Cyprus. They boarded a plane to Larnaca and were taken off because of the missile barrage from Iran to Israel. Like them, thousands of Israelis are now stuck in destinations around the world including Vienna, Budapest, London, Montenegro, Corfu and Serbia. Most of them were unable to find alternative flights to Israel, and those who found a flight to Larnaca were unable to find tickets with Israeli companies to return to Israel before the holiday.

Arkieh reported: “In light of the Iranian missile attack, the security situation in Israel, and in light of the cancellations of the foreign companies that operate leased planes also for Arkia, the company is preparing for a special situation. Arkia has already operated an air train today to two major destinations – Athens and Larnaca. The flights at this stage are only Israeli planes. Today a team of Arkia, which will accompany the passengers and help them get on the flight to Israel. Arkia is recruiting all the air crews, pilots and flight attendants in order to add flights to these destinations and to the Israelis who are at the airports. The company will continue to operate the flights around the clock.”