Rabat – Israeli airline Israir has suspended ticket sales for flights to Marrakech and put plans to expand the route on hold following new aviation security rules introduced after an incident involving a Flydubai flight, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.
The airline said it would stop selling tickets until the relevant authorities clarify the new security requirements, according to The Times of Israel.
Israir had planned to increase its flights to Marrakech to three per week starting in November. The company was also negotiating to lease an additional aircraft to support the expansion. Both plans have now been put on hold.
The airline has not announced when ticket sales will resume. Israeli media reported that the last scheduled flight on the route was expected to take place on October 20.
The decision follows a serious security incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv in late September. According to Reuters, the flight landed safely in Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot attacked the captain, and passengers helped restrain him.
The incident prompted Israeli authorities to review aviation security procedures and introduce tighter requirements for airlines operating flights to Israel. The new measures include additional checks involving foreign airline crews and aircraft.
Israir said it would continue to follow the applicable security instructions and prioritize the safety of passengers and crew members. However, the airline has not publicly identified a specific security threat involving Morocco.
Morocco-Israel flights
The suspension comes as direct air links between Morocco and Israel were gradually recovering after being disrupted after October 7.
Israir resumed flights to Marrakech in September 2026, initially operating one weekly service. Arkia also returned to the route in August, while El Al announced plans to resume flights through its Sun d’Or subsidiary from November 16, subject to the necessary approvals.
The renewed connections followed a period of limited direct air travel between the two countries, which established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
The latest decision could delay Israir’s plans to increase flight capacity between Israel and Morocco. However, it remains unclear how long the suspension will last or whether the new security requirements will affect other airlines serving the route.
