El Al Launches Emergency Cruise from Cyprus to Israel Amid Airspace Closure

Due to the ongoing closure of Israeli airspace amid escalating tensions with Iran, El Al has limited outbound flights from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport to 50 passengers per plane and opened registration for these restricted flights to eight major destinations. In response to grounded flights and travel disruptions caused by missile and drone attacks, El Al, in coordination with Mano Maritime, has chartered a cruise ship to ferry stranded passengers between Limassol, Cyprus, and Ashdod, Israel. The cruise ship, which accommodates approximately 1,500 passengers, will depart Ashdod on June 24 and sail from Limassol to Ashdod on June 26, offering free passage to El Al and Sun D’Or customers whose flights were cancelled, while others can purchase one-way tickets for €550. Passengers choosing the cruise are ineligible for repatriation flights, and all cruise tickets are non-refundable. This sea alternative aims to alleviate the impact on travelers during Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, which has severely disrupted air travel in the region.