But after opening the hundredth tab and losing your mind, many simply give up and go to a travel agent.

All that hassle can of course be avoided. ChatGPT may serve as a personal travel assistant, as one finance expert claims he saved up to £700 with it. Casper Opala, known online as Casper Capital, with more than eight million followers, shares savings tips, especially in travel. He claims that with artificial intelligence help, he got a flight that cost him only about £70 instead of more than £700.

His tip includes seven simple commands that can be copied and pasted into the chat search bar – saving time searching across countless different sites. Although some methods have existed for years, and various travel sites wrote about them even before ChatGPT was created, the advantage is that the bot can collect all the information for you in seconds, saving hours of searches.

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Virgin Atlantic announced Monday it has decided to discontinue its direct flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv. The British airline cited aircraft shortage as the reason for canceling flights to Israel.

Virgin Atlantic joins other airlines that have suspended service to Israel since the outbreak of war in October 2023.

Customers affected by the route cancellation who booked their flights directly through Virgin Atlantic will receive email notifications beginning May 10, 2025, and the cancellation will also be reflected in the "My Bookings" section of the company's website on the same date.

The Israeli CEO of Virgin Atlantic is Shai Weiss, brother of Channel 12 news journalist Dana Weiss. The airline joins Turkish carriers Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines, which announced during the war that they would not resume flights to Israel.

Uziya G., a commenter on the article, noted, "It's not terrible. There are currently 8 daily flights on the Tel Aviv-London route (Heathrow and Luton): 4 by El Al, 2 by British Airways, 1 by Israir, and 1 by Wizz Air. That's enough."

Another reader with the username Mosh responded to the news more critically, writing, "When they want to come back, don't let them return."

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Air France has committed to operating daily flights on the Paris-Tel Aviv route, establishing itself as the first non-Israeli carrier to currently maintain direct service between the two cities. The Air France-KLM group is set to expand its presence further, with Transavia France joining the route in three days.

While both airlines will serve the Paris-Tel Aviv market, they will operate from different Paris airports – Air France will utilize Charles de Gaulle Airport, while Transavia France will operate from Orly Airport.

The aviation sector's recovery is gaining momentum, with several major carriers announcing their return to Israel beginning February 1, including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, ITA, and Eurowings. The restoration of international connections will continue into spring, with Air India planning to resume services in early March, followed by Delta Airlines in April.

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This is a call for all frequent flyers – Wizz Air, the popular no-frills carrier, has launched an innovative annual subscription service in Israel dubbed "Wizz All You Can Fly" which, true to its name, allows subscribers to take to the skies as often as they desire, offering unlimited flights across its expansive network for a fixed yearly fee. This bold move comes as the airline seeks to leverage its growing route map, which now encompasses 22 destinations from Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport and over 750 routes spanning three continents. But how exactly will this subscription model work, and who stands to benefit the most? Let's dive into the essential details you need to know before considering this flight pass.

Wizz Air is offering their new flight pass at an initial price of €499 (approximately $540), which is set to rise to €599 (about $650) within 48 hours. Pass holders can reserve seats on nearly all routes in Wizz Air's network, with bookings available up to three days before takeoff. A small booking fee of €10 (around $11) per flight applies, subject to seat availability.

Who stands to benefit the most? For a monthly flyer, the subscription cost would average €42 (about $45) per month, with an additional €20 (roughly $22) booking fee per flight. This means cities like Rome, London, or Vienna become accessible for just €62 (about $67) round-trip. The subscription's value extends beyond Europe, as Wizz Air's routes span into Asia and North Africa, enabling budget-conscious travelers to create their own connections to exotic locales such as Morocco, Tenerife, Iceland, and even the Maldives.

While the Wizz Air flight pass offers exciting possibilities for frequent flyers, it's important to note some key conditions. The pass is non-transferable and tied to one individual, who must travel light as only a carry-on backpack is included in the base fare. Despite offering unlimited annual flights, there's a daily cap of three flights, and Italian domestic routes are excluded. The 72-hour booking window adds a layer of spontaneity but also means round-trip bookings are limited to three days or less in a single reservation. This last-minute nature of bookings might pose challenges during peak travel periods when seat availability could be limited. Potential subscribers should weigh these factors against their travel style and needs before committing to the pass.

This subscription is ideal for flexible, spontaneous travelers who pack light and can navigate last-minute bookings. However, it may not suit those with rigid schedules or holiday plans. 

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In a move that defies the current trend, Ethiopian Airlines has announced the resumption of its flights to Israel, standing out among nearly 20 carriers that recently suspended their services. This development comes as Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport reports a 20% decrease in passenger traffic, with approximately 55,000 travelers expected to pass through its terminals today.

The past weekend saw a cascade of flight cancellations to Israel, triggered by heightened security concerns following recent events in Lebanon and Iran. The exodus began Wednesday night when US giants Delta and United Airlines temporarily suspended their Israel-bound flights. Other major carriers, including Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, and ITA Airways, quickly followed suit.

Bucking this trend, Ethiopian Airlines has become the first to reinstate its Israel route after a brief two-day pause. The carrier will resume its direct flights from Addis Ababa to Ben-Gurion Airport this evening, with the return leg scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Ethiopian Airlines' decision carries particular weight, as it's currently the only airline maintaining a direct link between Israel and Africa. 

The Israel Airports Authority released figures this morning showing that approximately 55,000 passengers are expected to pass through Ben-Gurion Airport today. This marks a 20% drop from recent typical numbers, despite the continued operations of numerous foreign airlines in Israel, including Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Bluebird Airways, and Israeli carriers such as EL AL.

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AirHelp, a company that analyzes air travel data, released its 2024 score report ranking 239 airports worldwide. The ranking is based on on-time flight percentages (60% weightage), customer feedback on service quality (20%), and quality of amenities (20%)

The analysis was based on data from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, and included 17,550 ratings from passenger surveys across 64 countries.

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, topped the overall ranking with a score of 8.5 out of 10.

Cape Town Airport in South Africa and Chubu Centrair Airport in Japan secured the second and third positions, with scores of 8.50 and 8.49, respectively.

Several Brazilian airports, including Brasília International, Belém International, Recife Guararapes International, and Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International, received high ratings for punctuality, service, and food quality.

Top ratings were also given to airports in Oman, and the U.S.

Flight delays and cancellations have economic and environmental impacts, making airport punctuality an important consideration.

Sources: Time, Bloomberg, O Globo, Tagesspiegel, Times of India.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Korean Air, a five-star airline, is ending cabin service 20-40 minutes earlier on medium and long-haul routes to conclude inflight services before the plane descends for landing, aiming to reduce the risk of turbulence-related incidents and injuries during descent.

The decision was prompted by an increase in turbulence incidents, including clear-air turbulence, which has been exacerbated by climate change and temperature variations, particularly during descent.

The number of turbulence incidents has doubled in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2019.

Korean Air hopes its move will influence other carriers like Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways to enhance safety measures, following incidents of severe turbulence leading to injuries and even the death of a passenger.

Passengers are urged to follow crew instructions, fasten seat belts promptly, and stow carry-on luggage properly when turbulence is expected to reduce injury risk.

Sources: Business Insider, Travel and Tour World, Paddle Your Own Kanoo, VnExpress, AeroTime

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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The desert nation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) found itself in an unprecedented situation on Wednesday, attempting to recover from the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the country. This historic weather event, as described by the state-run WAM news agency, surpassed "anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949".

The deluge primarily impacted Dubai, where the city's international airport, a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates, was inundated with floodwaters. The rains began late Monday, soaking the sands and roadways of Dubai with 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at the airport. However, the situation intensified around 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, with the storms continuing throughout the day, dumping more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall onto the overwhelmed city within 24 hours.

Video: Arab social media

At Dubai International Airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed, forcing authorities to halt arrivals. Passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads. One couple, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, described the situation at the airport as "absolute carnage," with people sleeping in the Metro station and the airport itself due to the lack of transportation options.

The airport acknowledged on Wednesday morning that the flooding had left "limited transportation options" and affected flights as aircraft crews couldn't reach the airfield. "Recovery will take some time," the airport said on the social platform X. "We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges."

The Sharjah-based UAE carrier Air Arabia has suspended check-in for both inbound and outbound flights until Apr. 18 due to the weather's severe impact.

Paul Griffiths, the airport's CEO, acknowledged continued issues with flooding, saying every place an aircraft could be safely parked was taken. Some aircraft had been diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the city-state's second airfield. "It remains an incredibly challenging time. In living memory, I don't think anyone has ever seen conditions like it," Griffiths told the state-owned talk radio station Dubai Eye. "We are in uncharted territory, but I can assure everyone we are working as hard as we possibly can to make sure our customers and staff are looked after."

The rains were not limited to Dubai, as precipitation was also reported in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. However, the UAE was particularly affected, with one potential contributing factor being "cloud seeding," a process in which the government flies small planes through clouds, burning special salt flares to increase precipitation.

While rain is unusual in the UAE, an arid Arabian Peninsula nation, it occurs periodically during the cooler winter months. However, many roads and other areas lack proper drainage due to the lack of regular rainfall, leading to flooding. Authorities sent tanker trucks to pump away the water, and some residents had to bail out their flooded homes. As of now, authorities canceled school and instructed citizens to work from home. The government offered no overall damage or injury information, but in Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate, police reported that a 70-year-old man died when his vehicle was swept away by floodwater.

In neighboring Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the situation was equally dire, with at least 19 people killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to a statement from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management. Tragically, this figure includes 10 schoolchildren and an adult who were swept away in a vehicle, prompting condolences from rulers across the region.

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El Al is set to cancel a series of flights from London to Tel Aviv in a bid to strengthen the airline's Shabbat observance policy.Flight LY318, departing Saturday nights from Britain to Israel, will be nixed during the summer months as travelers had previously started the check-in process prior to the end of the Jewish day of rest.

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The latest Shabbat ends in London this year is 10:36 p.m. on June 24. Shabbat ends at 9:45 p.m. in the city this coming Saturday.The flight time from the British capital to Ben-Gurion Airport is approximately five hours.

The move to tighten Shabbat regulations is being spearheaded by El Al's new owner, Haredi businessman Kenny Rozenberg, according to Channel 12 News. The thousands of passengers expected to be impacted by the move will be able to change the date of their flight or receive a refund.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Two Israeli airlines launched their first commercial flights between Israel and Morocco on Sunday, less than a year after the countries officially normalized relations.

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Israir's flight departed Tel Aviv for Marrakech with around 100 Israeli tourists, the company said, hours before Israeli national carrier El Al dispatched its first direct flight to the same destination.

Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said the new direct flights would "help advance fruitful tourism, trade and economic cooperation and diplomatic agreements between the two countries."

Israel and Morocco agreed to normalize relations in late 2020 as part of the US-brokered "Abraham Accords." Morocco was among four Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

As part of the deal, the United States agreed to recognize Morocco's claim to the long-disputed Western Sahara region, however, the Biden administration said it will review this decision. Morocco's 1975 annexation of Western Sahara is not recognized by the United Nations.

Many Israeli Jews have a lineage that traces back to Morocco, which is still home to a small Jewish community of several thousand.

El Al said in a statement before the departure of its first flight that the company plans to operate five flights per week between Israel and Morocco.

"We hope that now many can know Morocco better, to experience and be excited by this special country that is deeply rooted in Israeli heritage, culture and experience," said El Al CEO Avigal Sorek.

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