International travel bookings spike after quarantine exemption announcement

Demand for flight tickets soared on Sunday after the Health Ministry announced that thrice-vaccinated returning passengers from abroad will not need to quarantine.

TRAVELERS CONVERGE at Ben-Gurion Airport late last month, as the skies begin to open up. (photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)
TRAVELERS CONVERGE at Ben-Gurion Airport late last month, as the skies begin to open up.
(photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)

Interest in the purchase of international flight tickets went up by 250% on Sunday as the Health Ministry announced that people who receive their third COVID vaccination will not have to enter full quarantine after returning from orange-designated countries, according to N12's Lee Abramowitz.

Demand jumped immediately by 50% after the announcement in comparison to last weekend, and the air travel website Gulliver said that traffic on its website had risen by 250%, according to Abramowitz.

Israelis did not just surf the web but opened their wallets, as the number of tickets sold also rose sharply.

Israeli airlines are preparing to fly to many destinations to meet the growing demand and according to the report,  Israir will be resuming flights to Athens, Rhodes, Baku, Cyprus, Montenegro, Marrakesh and other destinations.

Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, Spain, Bulgaria and Georgia are still designated as red countries and as of Monday, travel to those countries is still restricted.    

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz announced at a press conference on Sunday evening that the third coronavirus vaccine shot is available for anyone who has been fully inoculated for at least five months. It was previously available only to adults over the age of 30 and workers in fields deemed essential, such as healthcare.

 Health Nitzan Horowitz attends a press conference about the Coronavirus, in Jerusalem on August 29, 2021. (credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
Health Nitzan Horowitz attends a press conference about the Coronavirus, in Jerusalem on August 29, 2021. (credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)

In addition, under the new rules, which are due to take effect on Friday, all those who are either vaccinated within the previous five months or who were vaccinated earlier and received a booster, will be exempt from isolation if they return from all countries, except those labeled as red.

Currently, all inbound travelers to Israel are required to quarantine for a minimum of seven days, unless they come from a very limited group of countries.