Hundreds of Israeli travelers were stranded at Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport on Sunday morning, after Arkia abruptly canceled multiple outbound flights following a sudden policy shift by Jordanian authorities.

The airline said Jordan had stopped approving certain flights operated with European aircraft, despite those flights having received prior authorization. The move immediately disrupted routes to destinations including Bangkok, Athens, and Budapest, catching Israeli officials off guard and halting part of the alternative aviation network built during the war.

Conditions at the airport deteriorated rapidly as delays mounted. “There is no Arkia representative here or any other Israeli representation, there is no water or food here. People are in complete despair sitting on the floor and children are crying,” one stranded passenger told N12. Travelers reported missing connecting flights and losing thousands of dollars on hotels and onward travel.

Israeli officials and security authorities are in contact with their Jordanian counterparts in an effort to restore approvals and resume flights. In the meantime, contingency plans are underway, with some passengers being rerouted through Taba in Egypt or transferred to alternative flights, including via Larnaca.

The Aqaba route had become a key workaround as wartime restrictions sharply limited departures from Ben-Gurion Airport. The disruption adds further strain to already fragile travel options, compounded by Egypt’s recent decision to double the Taba crossing fee to $120 per passenger, alongside an additional ₪120 fee on the Israeli side.