El Al, Sun D'Or halt Marrakesh flights on security order

El Al joined the wave of Marrakesh flight cancellations Thursday, with its subsidiary Sun D'Or announcing it is postponing the launch of direct service to the Moroccan city, originally scheduled to begin November 16, and canceling all flights to the destination until at least December 15. The stated reason: new directives from Israeli security authorities.

The move follows a pattern set last week when Arkia halted ticket sales to Marrakesh and froze expansion plans, including the lease of an additional aircraft. Israir followed Wednesday, suspending sales until further notice and reviewing the future of the route it has operated since August. No Israeli carrier is now selling direct tickets to Morocco.

The decisions stem from a terror incident on a Fly Dubai flight and stricter security directives issued in response. The guidelines also apply to Israeli carriers using wet-lease arrangements, aircraft and crew chartered from foreign operators. El Al said it remains in continuous contact with security authorities and regulators, awaiting clearance.

Passengers whose flights were canceled received relatively generous options: a full refund, a credit voucher, or transfer to another El Al or Sun D'Or flight to Europe, with no change fees or fare differences, within three days of the original departure date.

Not just Morocco: Tokyo route also grounded

Arkia is simultaneously dealing with another setback. The direct route to Tokyo, scheduled to launch in October, was canceled after Japanese authorities refused to approve operations using wet-lease arrangements, foreign aircraft and crew. Thousands of passengers who had already purchased tickets were left disappointed, and class-action lawsuits have been filed against the company, alleging it sold flights without the required approvals and announced the cancellation too late.

Sun D'Or, part of the El Al Group, will increase its winter flight schedule (Photo: El Al Spokesperson)

For Israeli travelers, Marrakesh has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years, especially following the Abraham Accords, colorful markets, desert landscapes, exotic atmosphere, and a historic Jewish community. After a nearly three-year pause since October 7, 2023, direct flights resumed in summer 2026, offering a sense of return to normalcy. Now everything is once again up in the air.

Passengers who already purchased tickets to Marrakesh should check their options with the carriers. Those who planned trips to Japan will need to settle for flights with layovers or choose a different destination.

Israel's aviation sector is once again proving how sensitive it is to security incidents and international regulation. Marrakesh will wait. The question is for how long.