90-year-old stranded abroad during war leads to approval of class action against airline

The Central District Court approved a class action against ITA Airways, after an Israeli citizen nearly 90 years old and her son were stranded abroad when their flight was canceled in August 2024 and the company did not provide assistance or an alternative flight.

An Israeli citizen nearly 90 years old and her son led to the approval of a class action against the Italian airline ITA Airways, after their return flight from Rome to Tel Aviv was canceled in August 2024 during the war. Judge Avi Gurman of the Central District Court partially approved the request to manage the lawsuit as a class action. The mother and son claimed that the company only refunded the cost of the tickets but left them abroad without an alternative flight or assistance services, including accommodation, food, and transportation, forcing them to spend about 12,500 euros out of pocket. The judge ruled that the temporary order following the Iron Swords War exempted airlines from paying monetary compensation at certain times but did not cancel their obligation to provide assistance services and offer an alternative flight ticket. The class group will include any person whose flight to or from Israel was canceled or delayed by the airline between October 7, 2023, and November 11, 2026, and who was not provided with assistance services or the option of an alternative ticket.