The key facts

  • Arkia suspended ticket sales to Marrakesh at the request of Israeli security forces; no reasons given
  • The company is discussing the continuation of flights and the fate of tickets already sold; it is considering alternatives through commercial partners
  • The decision came six days before Israel's general election on October 27

Suspension of sales at the request of security services

The Israeli airline Arkia announced on Wednesday that it had suspended ticket sales for flights to Marrakesh, Morocco, 'until further notice' at the request of security authorities, without specifying the reasons for the decision. According to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the halt in sales followed an appeal from Israeli security forces.

Talks over the fate of the route

According to the newspaper, the company said it is in contact with the relevant agencies and security services to discuss whether flights on the route can continue. The consequences of the decision for flights whose tickets have already been sold are also being discussed — what will happen to them is not specified. Arkia is also studying alternatives to preserve the route, including operating flights through commercial partners in case the authorities decide to halt flights by Israeli airlines to Marrakesh. The company did not disclose details of the options under consideration.

Context: recent resumption and flight cancellations

According to Israel's Channel 12, Arkia resumed flights to Marrakesh only two months ago after a three-year hiatus. The channel also reported that a week ago Israel announced the cancellation of some scheduled flights to Morocco due to security considerations; according to the company, the cancellations followed new instructions from the security services.

Political backdrop and relations between the two countries

The decision came six days before Israel's general election, scheduled for October 27. The authorities did not specify the nature of the security threats that prompted the suspension of sales. Morocco and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since their restoration in December 2020, and direct air links are among the areas of cooperation between the two countries.