Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv): flight delay or cancellation compensation

What the law gives you: a rights summary

Israeli Aviation Services Law

Applies to every flight departing from or landing in Israel, on any airline.

• Departure delayed 2 hours or more: food, drinks and means of communication.
• Delayed 5 to 8 hours: a refund or an alternative ticket, your choice.
• Taking off 8 hours or more late counts as a cancellation: cash compensation per the table, plus a refund or an alternative ticket.
• A cancellation announced 14 days or more ahead: no cash compensation, but a refund or alternative ticket. With shorter notice, compensation depends on the times of the alternative flight.
• If the alternative flight landed close to the original time (within 2, 3 or 4 hours by distance), the airline may halve the compensation.
• No cash compensation if the airline proves special circumstances outside its control that it could not prevent, a protected strike, or a cancellation to avoid flying on Shabbat or a holiday.
• Compensation is due within 45 days of your written request, a ticket refund within 21 days. Payment is in money; a voucher only if you agreed explicitly and in writing.
• You can claim up to 4 years after the event. During a declared "special situation" the minister may change some of these rights by order.

Domestic flights (for example to Eilat) have separate regulations: a flight counts as cancelled if it did not operate or took off 3 hours or more late, and compensation on the Tel Aviv or Haifa–Eilat line is 300 ILS (2026).

EU Regulation 261/2004

Applies to a flight departing from an EU airport (any airline), and to a flight into the EU on an EU-licensed airline.

• Arriving at the final destination 3 hours or more late entitles you to compensation, like a cancellation (CJEU, Sturgeon).
• On flights over 3,500 km delayed 3 to 4 hours, compensation can be halved (€300).
• No compensation for extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided with all reasonable measures.
• One compensation per event: if you were compensated under a foreign law, you do not get the same kind of benefit again under the Israeli law.
• An amendment signed in 2026 (Regulation 2026/2202) applies from 23.10.2027: the amounts stay the same, and from then claims must be filed within 9 months of the flight.

Sources (checked 01.11.2026): Aviation Services Law (Nevo) · Official Gazette 14222: 2026 amounts · Domestic flight regulations (Nevo) · Regulation 261/2004 (EUR-Lex) · Regulation 2026/2202 (EUR-Lex)

Common airline answers, and what the law says

"Technical problem"

Under CJEU case law, a fault arising from normal aircraft operation is usually not an extraordinary circumstance. Under the Israeli law too, the airline must prove it could not have prevented the cancellation. Ask what the fault was.

"Weather"

Can be a valid reason, but only if the weather really prevented this flight. Ask which airport and at what time.

"Strike"

The Israeli law exempts a protected strike. In the EU, a strike by the airline's own staff is usually not an extraordinary circumstance (CJEU C-28/20).

"We gave you a voucher"

Under the Israeli law compensation is paid in money; a voucher only with explicit written consent. The EU regulation also requires the passenger's signed agreement for a voucher.

"We told you in advance"

Only 14 days' notice or more removes compensation entirely. With shorter notice, what matters is when the alternative flight left and landed. Keep the notice you got, with its date.

Common questions