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Israeli airline Air Haifa announced that it is postponing the launch of its Haifa-Paphos route to early May. The route, initially set to begin in April with six weekly flights, has been delayed due to what the arline says are "operational restrictions beyond the airline’s control."
The announcement comes a day after Ynet reported that Israeli airline passengers who booked flights to Paphos were surprised to learn they would be landing in Larnaca instead, following a directive from the Shin Bet.
"Passengers who booked flights between Haifa and Paphos from April 3 to April 30, 2025, will be transferred to alternative flights operating at similar times between Haifa and Larnaca," the airline said in a statement. "All affected passengers will be personally notified in the coming days and can view their updated booking details on the company’s website."
To accommodate travelers affected by the change, Air Haifa is offering a full refund for those who choose to cancel. Passengers who opt to travel via Larnaca instead will receive a $30 credit for a round-trip ticket or $15 for a one-way flight as compensation for the inconvenience.
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"We deeply apologize to our Paphos-bound passengers for not being able to meet their expectations due to circumstances beyond our control," said Dana Rubin, Air Haifa’s vice president of customer experience. "Passenger safety and comfort remain our top priorities and we are working hard to provide solutions that allow travelers to continue with their plans."
Israeli airlines have been prohibited from landing in Paphos since January due to security concerns, despite no official travel warning being issued for the destination. As a result, flights are landing in Larnaca, with airlines providing shuttle services to Paphos, a journey of approximately 90 minutes each way.
Despite the restriction, airlines continued selling tickets to Paphos. Last week, Arkia’s CEO sent a letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, the head of the National Security Council’s counterterrorism division and the director of the Civil Aviation Authority, arguing that allowing Tus Airways — a foreign airline owned by Israelis — to land in Paphos creates an unfair competitive advantage.