Israel Flight advice
Your Flights to/from Israel were cancelled. What should you do?
With the evolving security situation in Israel, many flights are being cancelled. Here are a few important things to know about your passenger rights.
Any flight departing or arriving in Israel is subject to Israel Aviation Services Law 2012.
Many flights departing or arriving in the EU or the UK are subject to other regulations as well as the Israeli regulation, and it is up to you to choose under which regulation you wish to claim.
It is important to highlight that, due to recent amendments to Israeli regulations, in certain cases, your interests may be better protected under EU/UK regulations.
This article will inform you of some basic rights you have under the Israeli regulation.
Your Rights Under Israeli ASL 2012
Alternative Flights
If your flight was canceled , regardless of the reason for the disruption the airline that was scheduled to operate your flight must legally offer you an alternative However, recent amendments to Israeli regulations have changed passengers’ rights regarding alternative flights depending on the scheduled travel date
Key Updates Due to the New Israeli Amendment
- Flights scheduled before February 11, 2025: Your rights remain unaffected and airlines must provide an alternative flight to your final destination as per the previous regulations
- Flights scheduled on or after February 11, 2025 (and until the official end of the war) Airlines will no longer be required to provide an alternative all the way to and from Israel Instead, they may reroute passengers to nearby destinations such as Cyprus or Athens, leaving passengers responsible for rebooking themselves to their final destination
Your Rights Under EU/UK Regulations
If your flight is also subject to EC/UK regulations the airline is still legally required to provide an alternative flight all the way to and from Israel However, in such cases your claim must be made in accordance with these regulations rather than Israeli law
Booking Your Own Alternative Flights
If the airline does not provide a suitable alternative you may have the right to book your own transportation and claim reimbursement Keep the following in mind
- The airline must reimburse your alternative flights even if your original flight was canceled more than 14 days in advance
- Before booking your own alternative contact the airline and confirm that they cannot rebook you Record the conversation or use an online chat where you can save screenshots
- Your alternative flight should be comparable in travel class and scheduled as close as possible to your original itinerary Small differences in date or airport do not matter
- Keep all receipts, invoices, boarding passes, and baggage tags to support your claim
Many airlines may misinform you about your rights and claim that you are not entitled to alternative flights You do not need to accept this
Important: If you request a refund for your canceled flight you will no longer be entitled to claim reimbursement for your alternative transportation
For full details refer to the official wording of the regulation
How to Claim?
If you choose to claim the expenses yourself ensure that your claim includes all relevant details
- Clearly state that you are claiming under the Israel Aviation Services Law and that the airline must respond within 45 days
- Send your claim to the operating carrier (e g if you booked a Swiss flight via Lufthansa’s website you must claim from Swiss not Lufthansa)
- While you can file a claim yourself airlines often make the process difficult and refuse to comply with legal obligations You should be prepared to take legal action if necessary
We’re Here to Help!
If your claim exceeds $1,000 (GBP 800) we can assist you
In many cases we may not only recover the actual cost of your alternative flights but also secure additional penalty compensation of up to ILS 11,590 per passenger if the airline refuses to pay what they owe you
To ensure your rights are fully upheld amid these new complexities we recommend using our services We can navigate the legal changes for you and secure the best possible outcome
Get in touch via our online claim form—we handle everything for you!
Our service is provided on a 20% no-win, no-fee basis Full terms and conditions apply
