Israeli airlines ease cancellation terms amid jitters over possible war with Iran
El Al and Arkia offering full credit refund for cancellations up to 48 hours before departure; Israir ‘cancellation shield’ customers can cancel up to 3 days before flight
Israeli airlines on Sunday announced they were easing the terms under which passengers can cancel tickets if necessary, amid concerns a war with Iran may break out, which would likely ground flights.
El Al, Arkia, and Israir said many passengers are contacting the airlines amid fears that their flights might be canceled. As things stand, Ben Gurion Airport is functioning as normal, with the exception of a number of flights to the United States canceled due to weather conditions.
Nevertheless, El Al announced it was offering the option to cancel tickets for any reason up to 48 hours before a flight’s departure in exchange for a full credit refund for the next two weeks, without any cancellation fees.
Arkia is making the same offer as El Al, while Israir is allowing customers to purchase their “cancellation shield” for $35 per passenger in addition to their ticket, which will allow them to cancel their booking up to three days before departure for a refund, instead of the usual seven, until the end of February.
As Israel remains on high alert over any potential escalation, a number of airlines have canceled some flights to and from the Middle East. During the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, Israeli airspace was effectively shut, leaving tens of thousands of people stranded.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran that he could strike, setting two red lines for the use of military force: the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the mass execution of people arrested in the protests.
Some airlines have preemptively canceled flights in the region, with Dutch airline KLM saying Saturday that it will avoid flying over large parts of the Middle East until further notice.
KLM told Dutch public broadcaster NOS that it had suspended flights until further notice to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh, and would not fly through the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Israel, and several countries in the Gulf.
Air France resumed its service to Dubai on Saturday after suspending it a day before, saying it was following the situation in the Middle East “in real time.”
Agencies and Stav Levaton contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.