Arkia Airline Halts Ticket Sales to Marrakech Amid Security Concerns
The Israeli airline Arkia has officially suspended the sale of tickets for its flights to Marrakech, Morocco, until further notice, following a request from Israeli security authorities. This decision marks a significant setback for the direct air route between Morocco and Israel, which had only recently resumed operations after a three-year hiatus.
According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Arkia is currently in discussions with relevant authorities and security services to evaluate the conditions necessary for maintaining this air connection, as well as to assess the implications of this suspension for passengers who have already purchased tickets. The airline is also exploring alternative solutions to ensure continued service to Marrakech, potentially through its commercial partners.
Recent Developments in Morocco-Israel Air Travel
This announcement comes just two months after Arkia resumed flights to Marrakech, following a lengthy interruption. Last week, the airline had to cancel several routes to Morocco due to new security directives issued by Tel Aviv. Additionally, fellow Israeli airline Israir also announced a suspension of ticket sales to the "Red City," attributing the decision to a recent incident involving a Flydubai aircraft and the subsequent security protocols that were established.
Israir had planned to operate three weekly flights to Morocco in the coming months and was even in discussions to lease an additional aircraft to support this expansion. However, all plans are now on hold until the airline receives final instructions from the appropriate authorities.
Direct and regular flights between the Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Israel were initially launched in July 2021, eight months after the normalization agreements known as the Abraham Accords. However, this route was interrupted following the onset of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Fortunately, in August, flights resumed with direct services operated by Arkia. Additionally, Sundor, a subsidiary of El Al, announced plans for two weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Marrakech starting November 16.
As reported by h24info.ma.
