Israel's second-largest airline moves its operations to Jordan and Egypt

Israel's second-largest airline is moving its operations to Jordan and Egypt as restrictions tighten at Ben Gurion Airport four weeks into the US-Israeli war on Iran, Walla reported on Monday. 

Arkia's CEO cited the 50-passenger limit being imposed on carriers, and said the policy "effectively means closing Israel's skies".

Arkia's flights will take off from smaller airports in Aqaba, Jordan and Taba, Egypt, starting on Tuesday and for the foreseeable future, the company said.

There will be minimal operations from Ben Gurion, including flights to Larnaca in Cyprus and Athens, Greece, "mainly for humanitarian needs", Walla reported. The two countries have thousands of Israeli residents who are unable to return to Israel. 

During the 12-day war with Iran last year, Arkia created a custom flight schedule to bring many of them back. 

"Arkia will continue to operate responsibly, while maintaining the safety of its passengers and providing alternative and creative aviation solutions as much as possible," Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said in a statement.

"Under the current framework, regular aviation activity cannot be maintained" in Israel, he added.

Arkia is honouring all tickets already booked by passengers. 

Last month, The Jerusalem Post reported that a US investor and owner of a cannabis pharma company was looking into purchasing Arkia from its Israeli owners.

The company is worth some $50m and would require an Israeli to join the venture, given restrictions on foreign ownership in the country.