Regev meets with Israeli airlines as foreign flight cancellations strand Israelis abroad

Transportation Minister Miri Regev is holding an emergency meeting with the heads of Israeli carriers after almost all foreign airlines temporarily suspended service to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, leaving thousands of Israelis stranded abroad.

Regev, together with Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Israel Airports Authority officials, is meeting with the heads of Israeli flagship carrier El Al and smaller local airlines Israir, Arkia, and Air Haifa to discuss assistance solutions to help bring back Israelis from overseas.

“In a time of national emergency, I expect Israeli airlines to show responsibility and refrain from exploiting the situation, and unfair price increases for Israeli consumers so that we don’t have to activate the regulatory tools at our disposal,” says Barkat. “Israeli aviation companies must show solidarity and act out of a mission and not burden the public.”

Among the measures under discussion with local carriers are reducing ticket price restrictions for major destinations and preparing for the activation of emergency plans in case of another wave of cancellations.

Most foreign airlines servicing Israel this week canceled their flights to Israel shortly after a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis struck inside the grounds of Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday.