An Israir passenger flight bound for Ljubljana was was forced to divert to Zagreb yesterday after Slovenian authorities denied it permission to land, triggering a sharp diplomatic dispute between Israel and Slovenia. Israir CEO Uri Sirkis confirmed that Flight 6H755 was redirected after Slovenian air traffic control refused it landing clearance, calling the move a "blatant violation" of international aviation agreements and EU open skies rules that guarantee equal access for airlines operating between member states.
Over the past few weeks, Israir had been unable to obtain a renewed operating permit from Slovenia's outgoing Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek, who revoked the airline's already-issued seasonal permit, a reversal of her own position from 2025, when she had argued there was no legal basis to refuse the permit.
With Israir's regular permit renewal caught up in political pressure from coalition partners and pro-Palestinian civil groups, Croatia’s Trade Air, which is Israir’s wet-lease partner, had stepped in to keep the Tel Aviv - Ljubljana ongoing, operating Ljubljana flights on Israir's behalf since late May, exploiting the fact that, as an EU carrier, it required no separate Slovenian approval to fly the route. However, over the past few days, these flights have been cancelled as well.
Israel’s Transportation Minister, Miri Regev, described the diversion as an "invalid political decision" and warned that "anyone who tries to boycott us via aviation needs to understand that there will be consequences". Israeli officials have raised concern that if political motives are permitted to override binding aviation agreements, other European governments may follow Slovenia's lead.
Slovenia's outgoing government has been one of Israel's harshest critics in Europe. However, a new government is currently in the process of formation and is expected to take a markedly friendlier stance toward Israel. Israir carried 14.418 passengers on its seasonal Tel Aviv - Ljubljana service last year.
Bratušek's final dance, good riddance
ReplyDeleteA big majority of Slovenians agree with her.
DeleteI see that yeah, her work is so popular that she and her government are getting another mandate, right?
DeleteMost Slovenians agree with her on the Israel-Palestine issue.
DeleteI doubt that. Most Slovenians have little clue about the whole conflict that has been in place for hundreds, if not thousands of years. What Slovenian media tells you, is just a part of the story. Most people don´t make the effort to look deeper into the matter.
DeleteYou are very wrong
DeleteI'm not talking about media, I'm talking about basically every person, be it in my family and friend circle or my doctor, or my dentist or my professors at university, they all dislike Israel. Not just because what they have been doing in the last years but even decades before. Most hospitality workers do not like tourists from Israel as they tend to take everything with them, like hair dryers, bed sheets, pillows and they tend to be very disrespectful and entitled.
DeleteI grew up in Slovenia, I am aware of what many people think about Israel and Jews. And I am ashamed of the lack of knowledge and common sense that one can encounter in many places. It´s a very complicated matter. But basically Slovenians have been brain-washed into believing Israel is bad and Palestine a victim. The real life is not as black and white. Media influence and Slovenia´s history have had great influenc on that and you cannot deny it. About tourists from Israel: The same applies for many nations, also Americans, Russians, Eastern Europeans etc. are not very popular.
DeleteI'm not entirely sure why you blame the media for this. The general fantasy most Slovenians have, is how we as small nation with great people have resisted big powerful forces and yet we somehow managed to survive and flourish. Many Slovenians see themselves and their struggles and can connect easily with Palestinians, Ukrainians etc. Also, generally speaking most Slovenians are simply against killing innocent civilians. As for tourists, none have received so much hate and resentment from hospitality workers as Israeli tourists.
DeleteSlovenians "feel" Palestinians so much that they revoked Palestine recognition made in Yugoslave Time, for 30+ years they were ignoring the fact that there is some Palestine over there and "proudly" recognised od as one of the first European countries... Still never mentioning that Yugoslavia did it I. The '80s, that Serbia maintaines diplomatic relationship with Palestine for few decades and now Slovenia will give someone a lesson of ethics... Well probably yes on how NOT to do!
DeleteIn fed up of these wole left fascists!
I'm too upset.
DeleteI'm fed up of those woke left fascists!
New infrastructure minister Vrtovec said this will be resolved tomorrow. Thank god.
ReplyDeleteFAKE FAKE FAKE NEWS!!!
ReplyDeleteFlight was originally planned and performed as TDR755 and not ISR755 (6h755) on route TLV-ZAG and was not diverted. Flight was not refused by anybody!! Please check the facts!
ISR755 is the call number for any future Ljubljana flights and TDR number was used last week to avoid this mess - but they additionally sent out clarification that forbid such gray zone
DeleteYeah Slovenia did a blatant violation with that😂I don’t think Israel is the right country to talk about violating anything at all. Also shame on them to putting out fake news, flight was never scheduled to land at Ljubljana at all.
ReplyDeleteBravo. That is the point.
DeleteI don’t understand how people believe this. Why would Israir even takeoff if they don’t have the permit to land at Ljubljana in the first place. The government has yet to remove the barriers to allow Israeli airlines to land at Ljubljana so its obvious that the flight was scheduled to land at Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteRegardless all Tel Aviv flights are cancelled.
DeleteIt was not diverted in a way where they were in the air before they knew. But it was diverted in a way where Ljubljana flight landed in zagreb and pax knew that only 12 hours in advance.
DeleteSo where in the story is then Slovenian ATC which denied (according to reports) landing in LJU?
DeleteSimilar thing happened yesterday with SAS from Copenhagen to Mumbai, diverted back after 4h in the air because Indian authorities didn't issue final approval which SAS hoped it would happen while en route.
DeleteNo it is not similar. Flight from TLV landed according to FPL. In ZAG. Did not return to it's origin or anywhere else but as planned!
DeleteSimilar in regards to OP questioning how could a flight take off without all permits secured. Same in regards that both flights landed, just not at their original (or published) destinations.
DeleteBravo Slovenia
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteBravo for what?! Antisémitisme ?! Fascisme ? Woke stupidly? Would you please be a bit more precise why we should applaud!
DeleteCan every country follow SLOVEnia's example? Thank you ❤️
ReplyDeleteAgree
Delete+100
DeleteI would love to see that... But under the conditions they take 100 "Palestinian refugees", to give them home and eate how they multiply overtaking their land! Please do so, please, please!
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