A ILS20.75 million shekel (USD6 million) class-action lawsuit has been filed against Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) and Israir (6H, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) for allegedly violating Israeli consumer protection laws by withholding refunds they were supposed to return to passengers, The Times of Israel newspaper has reported citing court papers.
According to the lawsuit, passengers assigned to Terminal 1 at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion are required to pay a lower departure tax than those using Terminal 3, as there are more services and amenities on offer at the latter. The fee is currently ILS104.31 (USD30.25) at Terminal 3 and ILS48.06 (USD13.94) at Terminal 1. The tax is paid directly to the airlines, which must then pass it on to the Israel Airports Authority.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed by lawyers Nitzan Gadot and Rotem Sagi, issues arise when passengers are asked to depart from a terminal that is different to the one they were initially assigned, yet the difference in the fee amount remains the same. Airlines sometimes change the departing terminal due to flight cancellations or passenger congestion.
The plaintiffs in the case are two families whose outbound flights were shifted shortly before departure from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1. They argue that they were not refunded the difference in fees that they had paid and allege that after approaching the airlines they were refused, according to the court documents.
The lawsuit is seeking compensation of ILS10.87 million (USD3.15 million) from Arkia and ILS9.87 million (USD2.85 million) from Israir.
Arkia and Israir did not immediately respond to requests for comment from ch-aviation.
