Middle East: Signs of economic strain are becoming increasingly evident in the Zionist entity, according to Israeli admissions and official reports. The Yemeni Armed Forces' air and sea blockade—enforced through restrictions on cargo ship passage and military operations—has imposed a severe chokehold, including a de facto siege on Lod Airport.

Economic expert and analyst Salim Al-Ja'dabi stated, “From May 1 to 29, there were two categories of flights: scheduled ones shown to passengers and actual flights that took off.” He noted that while 6,294 flights were scheduled during that period, only 4,912 actually operated—meaning around 1,380 flights, or 22 percent, were canceled, averaging 48 canceled flights per day.

Speaking to Al-Masirah TV, Al-Ja’dabi explained that many airlines were forced to raise ticket prices and reroute flights to alternative destinations. This made direct travel increasingly difficult for Israeli passengers, pushing them to use connecting flights. Among the most common alternative destinations were Greek cities like Larnaca and Athens, as well as Arab hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which recently became viable travel options.

According to Al-Ja’dabi, ticket prices have surged dramatically. “A ticket from occupied Lod Airport to Larnaca used to cost $100, but now it’s $391—an increase of nearly 96 percent,” he said. Moreover, some travel companies have shifted toward promoting alternative tourism, as Israel’s appeal as a tourist destination declines. One example is Cyprus, where promotional fares have reached $455.

Al-Ja’dabi also noted an unusual trend during Jewish holiday seasons: ultra-Orthodox groups like the Haredim have begun chartering flights. Ticket prices from the US to the Zionist entity have reached $2,600, though these groups are attempting to reduce costs for Jewish travelers to around $1,600.

Translated by Almasirah English website