Israel’s national airline, El Al, announced this week that it was cancelling half of its daytime flights to Eilat, citing security risks related to new flight paths and landing procedures.

In recent months, Israel has taken measures to protect its air traffic into the coastal city from attacks by Islamist militants in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. But flights to Eilat with two other carriers, Arkia and Israir, have not been pulled.

Passengers who have already purchased a ticket have been offered seats on one of El Al’s night flights, or a refund and free bus transportation from Tel Aviv to Eilat.

The company is researching the possibility of day flights to Ovda Airport, 60 kilometres north of Eilat.

A rocket fired at Eilat from the Sinai peninsula last month was intercepted by an Israeli air defence system.