Flights between Crete and Israel suspended, impact of the crisis on Greek tourism and the Israeli Prime Minister’s plane in Athens.
Flights between Crete and Israel suspended
Flights between Heraklion, Crete, and Tel Aviv have been cancelled after an Israeli attack on Iran ramped up regional tensions. The cancellations started early Friday, leaving a lot of Israeli tourists stuck on the island with no clear way home.
Key Points |
Details |
|---|---|
Flights Cancelled |
All flights from and to Tel Aviv-Heraklion were cancelled. |
Tourists Affected |
Hundreds of Israeli tourists are stuck in Crete. |
Airports Impacted |
Heraklion Airport faced disruptions. |
Airlines Involved |
Aegean Airlines has cancelled flights today. |
Official Coordination |
The travel agency awaits instructions from the Israeli Embassy. |
Airspace Closure |
National airspaces of Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan closed internationally. |
Many Israelis waiting at Heraklion Airport eventually had to give up after hours of uncertainty. They headed back to their hotels, hoping for updates and a way out soon.
Impact on Tourists
- Thousands of Israeli tourists in Crete are unable to leave due to flight cancellations.
- Travel agencies are constantly in touch with the Israeli Embassy, trying to figure out next steps.
- Four flights that had already departed from Israel to Heraklion were forced to turn back in mid-air.
Airport Situation
Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” Airport has been in a state of disruption. The air traffic controller reported that four inbound flights had to divert back to Israel, and scheduled flights from Heraklion to Tel Aviv were cancelled at the last minute.
Airlines Response
Aegean Airlines says it’s cancelled all flights between Heraklion and Tel Aviv for the day, following airspace closures and sticking to safety protocols.
Broader Context
The closure of airspace in Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan has caused a temporary blockade. This has thrown travel routes and flight safety in the region into disarray.
It’s a tense and uncertain situation, with officials watching developments and hoping for a quick return to normal flights. For now, passenger safety is the only thing that matters.
Impact of the crisis on Greek tourism
The Israeli market has become crucial for Crete’s tourism. It’s one of the fastest-growing sources of visitors, especially looking ahead to 2025.
Flights between Israel and Greece have increased, with air seat capacity jumping roughly 41% over 2024. That’s not a small number, and it’s hard not to notice.
Key points about the Israeli market for Crete:
- There are over 1 million flight seats scheduled from Israel for the summer season (March–October) in 2025.
- Still, the Israeli market is less than 2% of total Greek tourism arrivals and revenues—so not dominant, but definitely not negligible.
- Historically, Israelis have kept coming even during regional crises, showing a certain resilience.
- They make a real impact on Crete’s hotel occupancy and the local economy, especially in busy months.
Tel Aviv’s airport acts as the main gateway for these visitors. Any hiccups in flights or new travel restrictions in the region could hit Crete’s tourism directly.
Israeli tourists are regulars in Crete. Their plans, though, can get shaky if air connections or the region’s security situation changes.
Recent events led to some flight suspensions to and from Tel Aviv, causing cancellations and a short-term dip in arrivals. Still, there’s this sense that things are bouncing back for 2025, with numbers heading toward pre-crisis levels.
Details regarding Israeli tourists in Crete:
Factor |
Description |
|---|---|
Scheduled flight seats (2025) |
Exceeding 1 million for summer (41% increase) |
Overnight stays |
Approximately 3.9 million from Israeli visitors |
Share of Greek arrivals |
Around 1.7% of total arrivals |
Economic impact |
Significant contribution through bookings and spending |
Tourism leaders stress that Israeli tourists are pretty resilient, expecting only limited cancellations as time goes on. Safety is always at the top of the list for Israeli travelers when they pick a destination.
Tour operators and hotels are keeping a close eye on things. If flight restrictions drag on, it could hurt tourism flows to Crete, so everyone’s hoping for a quick resolution and more flights reopening to Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister’s Aircraft in Athens
The Israeli officials who left Tel Aviv have landed in Athens, Greece. https://t.co/h4RfWzalTU pic.twitter.com/FynhoC1fax
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) June 13, 2025
The Israeli government’s aircraft, Wings of Zion, showed up in Greek airspace and touched down in Athens. Flight tracking confirmed it left Tel Aviv and made the trip for a pretty specific reason.
This Boeing 767-338ER is the main government jet for Israel’s president and prime minister when they travel abroad. It’s a relatively new addition, entering service in November 2023, and is run by the Israeli Air Force.
Flight Details:
Detail |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft model |
Boeing 767-338ER |
Name |
Wings of Zion |
Flight origin |
Tel Aviv |
Destination |
Athens |
Passengers |
Israeli ambassador to Greece only |
Escort |
None requested by Israel |
Operational since |
November 2023 |
The purpose of this flight was to transfer the Israeli ambassador to Greece. Tel Aviv airport was temporarily closed, so they had to make special arrangements.
No other passengers were on the manifest for that flight.
Earlier, the Jerusalem Post reported that Wings of Zion had two fighter jets escorting it out of Israel. But once it hit Greek airspace, there was no military escort involved—none was even requested.
The whole thing suggests some careful coordination between Israeli and Greek officials. Still, it wasn’t a big public event, just official diplomatic business.
Using Wings of Zion like this really shows how much Israel values secure, direct travel for its top people, especially when there’s regional tension in the air.
