Arkia airline faces backlash over poor service

The peak of the summer season has put heavy pressure on Ben Gurion Airport, as many Israelis hoped to head abroad for a break. Given the ongoing security situation, many passengers opted for Israeli airlines this year, hoping for a smoother experience, but instead encountered significant disruptions.

One passenger told Kan News about his decision-making process:

"I had the option to fly with a Greek airline, but because of the current situation, I preferred to play it safe, so to speak, with an Israeli company."

In recent days, social media has been flooded with complaints from frustrated passengers regarding delays, cancellations, and a total lack of response from Arkia.

"All we asked for was someone to talk to. There was no one to give us an answer, no one to take care of the basics. Many hours of waiting and zero attention," said one affected passenger.

Another customer wrote:

"Arkia, you are undoubtedly in first place for terrible service, or rather, the absence of service. I traveled with you abroad, and my suitcase remained at Ben Gurion Airport. You didn't contact me, you didn't apologize, and it's impossible to reach you even after hours on the service line. It's a disgrace."

Passengers have also highlighted erratic schedule changes. One traveler described a situation where passengers who had already boarded a shuttle to the plane were forced to return to the gate without explanation.

In response to Kan News, Arkia stated:

"Arkia is in the midst of the summer season, operating hundreds of flights for tens of thousands of passengers. Occasionally, unexpected malfunctions occur that are beyond the company's control. In such cases, Arkia acts quickly to update passengers, provide the necessary response, and work to return operations to normal as soon as possible. The customer is always at the top of our priorities, and we regret the inconvenience caused and are constantly working to improve our service and customer experience."