Ministry official says aid is preferred option, but banks reportedly view loans to airline, which has seen devastating losses compounding existing issues, as too risky

Finance Ministry looking for ways to prevent collapse of airlines due to coronavirus crisis, similar aid to El Al held up due to carrier's shaky preexisting financial situation

Israir flight to Lisbon will return later with stranded Israelis; that flight, alongside one from New York, will be the day's only arrivals

Evacuees, mostly students, fly from European epicenter of coronavirus pandemic on Israir flight, immediately enter 2-week quarantine

'We've never seen anything like this,' says head of workers union as manpower reduced by 70%, half of main terminal shuttered

Arkia to end services immediately; Israir says it'll try to bring all passengers back to the country before halting international operations next week

Finance Ministry said to estimate that requirement could cost economy NIS 4.9 billion a month; unemployment benefits granted to tour guides, laid-off workers in tourism industry

Passenger could face up to three years in prison for the theft after police board Israir plane to arrest her