Korean Air announces “temporary flight suspension to Tel Aviv” until July 24 as a result of the Gaza war.
Airlines are offering excellent deals to counter wave of cancellations, with prices slashed by as much as 50%.
Korean Air suspended Israel-bound flights until Thursday as a result of the ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip, the company announced on Friday. The airline hinted that the move was partially designed to review safety issues in the wake of the incident last week in which a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine.
Some 30% of ticket-holders have canceled their travel plans in the wake of the ongoing fighting, officials say – Photo: Yossi Zeliger
“To ensure the safety of customers from the political unrest of the Israel [sic], flights to Tel Aviv (TLV) will be suspended for the duration specified below,” read a statement on the company’s website bearing the headline “Notification of temporary flight suspension to Tel Aviv.” The company operates three Tel Aviv-bound flights each week.
No other airline has announced any changes to its summer flight schedule. Ben-Gurion International Airport usually sees an uptick in traffic in July, with roughly 50,000 Israelis and tourists flying out or arriving at the destination each day. According to officials, some 30 percent of ticket-holders have canceled their travel plans as a result of the Gaza fighting.
The cancellations have increased availability on flights all through July, prompting airlines to offer major discounts. Ophir Tours Deputy Director Yehuda Zafrani said the discount offered for package deals could be as high as 50 percent off the normal rate in July.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18911
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