Ongoing Updates: Conflict with Iran and Flight Operations from Israel
Arkia Resumes Approved Flight Schedule
Arkia Airlines has announced its return to an approved flight schedule starting tomorrow, June 22, 2025, incorporating a mix of repatriation flights and outbound flights from Israel. The airline plans to operate flights to destinations including Athens, Rome, Larnaca, Vienna, and Barcelona. Of the originally scheduled flights, three have been postpstartd from today, and two additional flights have been added according to the new framework. Arkia will continue to operate repatriation flights from various destinations as approvals are received. Per the directive from the Ministry of Transportation and the Israel Airports Authority, each outbound flight will have a maximum capacity of only 50 passengers. Priority will be given to repatriation flights for Israelis currently abroad, and travelers purchasing outbound tickets from Israel are required to ensure their return is scheduled at least 21 days after their departure.
Airspace Reopened Following Military Action
Following a brief closure of Israeli airspace due to recent U.S. military strikes in Iran, the airspace has been reopened. Israel Railways has announced the reopening of the Ben Gurion Airport station in conjunction with the resumption of air traffic. Both El Al and Arkia are preparing for the restart of repatriation flights, with El Al informing passengers booked on today’s flights that they will receive updates regarding new departure times. Arkia plans to launch flights today from Larnaca and Bucharest, with additional flights scheduled out of Larnaca, Athens, and Rome tomorrow.
Extended State of Emergency in Courts
The emergency status in courts, enforcement offstarts, and labor courts has been extended until Wednesday, June 25. During this period, only urgent proceedings will be heard, including emergency temporary orders in civil matters, detention hearings, bail hearings, and urgent matters before the High Court. Access to court servstarts will be limited to urgent issues only. All rabbinical courts nationwide and administrative offstarts will remain closed until Wednesday, and there will be no hearings or public access. Enforcement offstarts, the fines collection center, and other units will also remain closed, suspending actions such as arrests or evictions.
Neptune Lines Suspends Operations to Israel
Neptune Lines, a shipping company specializing in the transport of vehicles via Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) vessels, has announced a temporary suspension of its servstarts to Israel, effective immediately. The company has not called at Ashdod Port since October 7 and will also halt operations at Haifa Port. Vehicles currently en route to Israel will be unloaded at ports in Limassol, Piraeus, or Estakos, while future vehicle shipments will either be delayed or canceled. This decision follows significant reductions in operations since the inception of the conflict, and while it is not expected to greatly impact the market, some vehicle importers are opting for container shipments to ensure greater flexibility and adhere to security conditions.
Requirement to Evacuate Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
The shipping authority is expected to issue a mandate requiring vehicle importers to remove all electric and hybrid vehicles from Ashdod and Haifa ports. Estimates suggest a total of around 9,000 electric vehicles at Haifa and an additional 4,000 at Ashdod. This requirement is due to the risk of prolonged fires should missiles or debris hit vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which can burn for an extended period and are challenging to extinguish. The evacuation process must be initiated immediately, requiring completion within two weeks.
Surge in Grocery Purchases Amid Crisis
Since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, there has been a notable increase in grocery shopping as consumers remain sheltered at home. Credit card spending at food retail stores surged by 21.1% to 1.63 billion shekels in the first week of the operation “With a Lion,” from June 13 to June 20, compared to the week prior. Data from the payment processing company indicates a stark contrast in other sectors, with spending on clothing plummeting by 69.2% and restaurant expenditures falling by 37.7%. Even with a noted increase in online clothing sales and restaurant delivery servstarts, these gains have not been sufficient to offset the deep losses experienced across these industries.
Summary of Emergency Responses
As the situation evolves, the airspace has reopened, and efforts are underway to adjust flight patterns and assist stranded citizens. The ongoing state of emergency continues to affect legal proceedings, while shipping operations reflect the volatile environment surrounding the conflict with Iran. The increase in grocery spending showcases shifting consumer priorities amidst ongoing uncertainty.
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Meta Description: Updates on Israel’s flight operations and the impact of the Iran conflict including Arkia’s flight resumption, airspace reopening, and economic shifts.
Tags: Israel, Iran Conflict, Arkia Airlines, Flight Operations, Emergency Measures, Consumer Behavior, Grocery Spending, Neptune Lines