Israeli airlines Arkia and Israir announced Monday that they are suspending all international flights over the coronavirus crisis, citing virtually nonexistent ticket sales, as many countries have imposed either travel limitations or quarantine orders on incoming tourism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that, as part of Israel's efforts to stem the outbreak, all nationals who return from abroad will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days regardless of where they were returning from.
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El Al, Israel's flag carrier, said it, too, will be significantly reducing the volume of its operations but urged for government assistance to the quickly crashing tourism industry.
Arkia has canceled its flights effective immediately and indefinitely. Israir said it would suspend all international operations starting next week and through March.
"These are difficult times for Israel's aviation and tourism industries," a spokesperson for Israir Airlines told The Jewish Press.
El Al officials met Sunday with Treasury officials over the crisis.
"The state budget will not cover the company's funding gaps unless El Al has first done all it can to limit damages from the crisis," ministry executives told financial daily Calcalist.
Israir and Arkia will be required to meet the same terms if they want assistance, he said.
El Al announced major layoffs over the crisis and plans to let go of about 1,000 of its 6,000 employees.
The carrier's CEO Gonen Usishkin said the company would continue flying to the United States, Europe, and Africa due to a feeling of "national responsibility," but noted international flights will be operated according to customer demand.
"El Al sees a supreme value in maintaining the air routes to and from Israel during the time of emergency, and will, therefore, continue to operate flights to America, Europe and Africa, according to demand and need," he said.
