Arkia canceled work from Jordan due to impossible demands from Jordanian authorities

Israeli airline Arkia has moved flights from Aqaba to Taba after Jordanian authorities banned the use of aircraft from European charter companies, obliging Israelis to lease Jordanian aircraft.

According to the economic publication Globes, Jordanian authorities refused to approve flights using European aircraft that Arkia leases. This means dozens of flights that Arkia had planned to operate from Aqaba have been cancelled.

Jordan insists that the flights operate through local charter airline Jordan Aviation, which provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance services to other airlines, travel agencies and government agencies. In this way, Jordan is trying to increase employment in its own country and generate related income against the backdrop of high demand for flights from the region.

In this regard, Arkia moved part of its activity to the nearby Taba airport. Egypt, however, is also trying to make money on the closed skies in Israel due to the war. The border tax at the Taba checkpoint was doubled from $60 to $120 per person – the second increase since the start of the war.