Israeli media highlight the significant void left by the discontinuation of Turkish Airlines’ services in “Israel”.
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In this October 27, 2010 file photo, a Boeing 737 being delivered to FlyDubai is seen in Seattle. (AP)
Until the beginning of the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Turkish Airlines operated more than 10 daily flights between “Tel Aviv” and Istanbul.
However, Turkey decided to cease its operation in “Israel”, announcing in November that Turkish Airlines would not resume flights to “Tel Aviv” until at least October 2024, in protest against the unbearable civilian death toll and the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
It is worth noting that Turkish President Recep Erdogan consistently criticized “Israel”, describing “Israel’s” crimes as “occupier terrorism” constituting “genocide”.
Israeli media reported that discontinuing Turkish Airlines’ services in “Israel” created a significant gap, stressing that high prices faced by passengers are a result of limited supply and increasing demand for flights, making it challenging for airlines to fully meet the demand. However, UAE’s airlines, among others, stepped in to fill the void left by Turkish Airlines.
Based on data from the Airports Authority, Flydubai and Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) held the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in the Israeli passenger traffic report, accounting for 2.15% and 1.29% of passengers. However, just two months later, in January 2024, Flydubai rose to the third spot, trailing only Israeli airlines El Al and Israel Air, with a 3.88% share of passengers.
Yehuda Zafarani, director of tourism at the Hot Consumer Club, affirmed that “Emirati airlines continued operations throughout the war, making the United Arab Emirates the second most popular destination for Israelis in February.”
Several airlines are stepping up to fill in the vacuum created by the absence of Turkish Airlines, both as a corporate entity and a pivotal hub in Istanbul, as per Israeli media.
Zafarani also highlighted that the absence of Turkish Airlines presented a significant opportunity for two main parties. Firstly, Israeli companies, particularly El Al, stand to benefit from European destinations. Secondly, companies from the United Arab Emirates have seized the opportunity for connections to Far East destinations, creating robust competition and substantial gains.
In the European market, Lufthansa and British Airways will also serve as alternatives. Additionally, Air India is expected to strengthen its presence in the East, potentially leading to price increases.
This is happening as the Israeli genocide persists into its 158th day, killing over 31,184 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Additionally, “Israel” is imposing a war of starvation on Palestinians, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 individuals, including infants.
Read more: Turkey pauses energy plans with ‘Israel’ over war on Gaza
