Turkish Airlines Suspends Flights to Israel Amid Diplomatic Crisis

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Turkish Airlines’ decision to cancel its flights to Israel until the end of October 2024 has sent shockwaves through the Israeli travel market, raising concerns about the future of air travel between the two countries, according to January report on the Israel Financial Insider web site. The move comes against the backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions following the recent Israel-Hamas conflict in the region, further exacerbating strained relations between Israel and Turkey.

The announcement, made on October 7, marks a significant disruption in air travel between the two nations, with Turkish Airlines halting its services to Israel. Subsequently, the National Security Headquarters (NSH) issued a travel warning on October 18, urging Israelis in Turkey to depart promptly in light of the deteriorating situation, the IFI report indicated. In response, Israeli airlines organized a rescue flight from Istanbul to repatriate stranded citizens, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The diplomatic rift between Israel and Turkey hit a new low following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s public support for Hamas and his labeling of Israel as a “terrorist state,” the IFI report said. This sharp condemnation has not only strained bilateral relations but has also triggered a consumer boycott against Turkish products in Israel, reflecting the depth of public sentiment in response to Erdogan’s remarks.

The repercussions of Turkish Airlines’ decision are expected to reverberate throughout the Israeli travel market. With over 50 weekly flights from Israel, Turkish Airlines served as a crucial hub for connecting flights, representing 6.5% of all Israeli outbound traffic in 2022, according to the information provided in the IFI report.  The suspension of these flights has created significant disruptions, leaving travelers and industry stakeholders grappling with uncertainty about the future of these vital routes.

Industry insiders caution that even after the resolution of the Gaza conflict, air travel to Turkey may not return to normalcy in the near future. The cancellation of Turkish Airlines flights represents a seismic shift in the Israeli aviation market, with lingering uncertainties over the resumption of these essential routes beyond October 2024, as was reported by the IFI. As tensions persist and diplomatic relations remain strained, the outlook for Israeli-Turkish air travel remains clouded by uncertainty, casting a shadow over the once-vibrant connectivity between the two nations.