Travel disruptions and heightened security restrictions ahead of Passover have forced many families to cancel or significantly alter their holiday plans, leading to soaring flight prices and complicated travel routes. Limited operations at Ben Gurion Airport have reduced available flights, sharply increasing demand and pushing ticket costs to extreme levels.

Families who once planned straightforward trips abroad are now rerouting through border crossings in Taba in Egypt or Aqaba in Jordan, often combining car travel with multiple connecting flights. These alternatives add hundreds of dollars in fees and can stretch travel times to a full day. Long-haul destinations such as Thailand are now costing thousands of dollars per passenger, while even short European routes have become far more expensive.

High demand has also driven up prices for flights to the United States and other destinations, with some travelers paying nearly double typical fares. Meanwhile, domestic tourism has surged, with hotels in Eilat nearly fully booked and holiday rates climbing steeply, leaving families to choose between costly overseas journeys and expensive local vacations.

Despite the financial strain and logistical challenges, many travelers say they are determined to preserve their holiday plans, even if it means taking longer, more complex and significantly more expensive routes.