Trip cancellation due to danger in Israel

Travel within the country and to Israel is not advised. Ben Gurion Airport is still in operation, but almost all airlines have greatly reduced or temporarily suspended their regular flights. Israel is currently preparing a ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There are also ongoing fears of incidents in the north and further escalation in the region.

Some other airlines, such as Wizz Air or Ryanair (as of 23.10.2023), continue to offer flights to Israel despite security risks. However, these low-cost carriers repeatedly cancel their flights at short notice. In doing so, they justifiably refer to circumstances beyond their control. This legally exempts the airline from possible compensation payments to passengers due to "force majeure". This is what happened with Ryanair in the last seven days (16 to 23 October) and also with WizzAir the support centre can hardly keep up with the requests because of the many calls due to flight cancellations. If the airline cancels at short notice, as described here, it contacts passengers and offers rebooking or a full refund.

El Al, Israel's largest airline, on the other hand, has cancelled only a small percentage (around 3%) of its scheduled flights in the last two weeks, but is keeping all options open for cancellations at short notice. El Al is mainly trying to bring home to Israel domestic passengers whose flights have been cancelled by other airlines and to bring out of the country tourists who are willing to leave. For this purpose, a separate fare model was introduced at short notice until 28 October 2023.

If the flight you have booked takes place and you in turn wish to cancel it, then the airline has fulfilled the contract and will not accept a cancellation free of charge.

Conclusion Flight Cancellation

Those wishing to cancel can either speculate that the flight will be cancelled at short notice if the situation on the ground continues to escalate and thus not incur any costs, or actively seek a rebooking to another, hopefully safer time or a cancellation with costs. To this end, also be sure to keep an eye on the Israeli authorities' instructions on air travel. Those who need to get out of Israel should most likely try El Al.

The Package Travel Act protects travellers more extensively than self-made individual bookings. A package tour includes several travel services such as arrival/departure and accommodation from one tour operator. Anyone who has booked a package tour or cruise to Israel has a duty of assistance from the tour operator in case of need. This duty of assistance includes, among other things, organising alternative transport in an emergency or accommodation if there is an involuntary extension of the stay. In concrete terms for the current situation in Israel, this means that those affected must contact the tour operator with whom they had booked. There you should ask for help in solving problems that have arisen; for example, if an early departure becomes necessary, paid excursions or other services are no longer possible because of the situation on the ground, or an alternative return flight must be found with another airline that is still active. The tour operators usually have their own staff on site, who work together with the state representation abroad. If this assistance cannot be provided, financial compensation can be claimed retroactively.

The travel warning of the current level 5 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned at the beginning is a convincing argument for being allowed to withdraw free of charge from a trip that is to take place in a few days. You can send our sample letter (German language) to the tour operator. If, on the other hand, the trip is to take place in the distant future, it will be more difficult to get out of the contract free of charge.

If the cruise would have included stops in Israel, for example in Tel Aviv, Haifa or Ashdod, and is now diverted due to the threat of war, and these shore excursions are cancelled, those affected are entitled to price reductions. If instead of Tel Aviv, for example, the Turkish city of Izmir is now used as an alternative, out-of-court compensation will not be enforceable. A court would then have to decide whether the alternative compensation was sufficient.

Conclusion Package Tour

• If you want to cancel a package holiday in the near future and there is no longer an official travel warning, the earlier you cancel, the lower the cancellation costs. 
• Check whether, for example, your credit card or your car club membership includes travel cancellation cover.
• With regard to a trip that lies further in the future, it is important in the event of a legal dispute with tour operators whether there was a travel warning. However, this has no legally binding effect on the court ruling. As is often the case, it depends on the exact facts of the individual case. Conversely, a court may also recognise extraordinary circumstances in favour of the aggrieved travellers where there was no travel warning, for example if serious media reports clearly show the danger or impossibility of the trip. 
• In any case, it is advisable to contact the travel company before or during the trip and to try to find an amicable solution.