El Al to stop flights to Turkey

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El Al is to stop flying to Turkey and Cyprus from Thursday 1 March because of low demand and high security costs.

The decision is part of reorganisation plans that have seen it introduce new flights to East Asia and North America.

The Israeli airline says that the cost of security for flying to Istanbul and Larnaca is particularly heavy.

El Al suspended its flights to Turkey for 10 days in 2004 amid reports that Istanbul's Ataturk airport had reduced the permitted number of Israeli guards.

Turkish Airlines still runs direct flights between Istanbul and Tel Aviv while Cyprus Airways flies directly between Larnaca and Tel Aviv.

In the past year, El Al's reorganisation process has seen it introduce additional flights to Hong Kong, Beijing and Miami and a new non-stop service to Los Angeles.