As part of the expansion, EL AL will introduce direct long-haul services to Hanoi in Vietnam, Seoul in South Korea, and Manila in the Philippines. Each route will operate three times weekly and is intended to serve both tourism and business travel demand, while strengthening economic links between Israel and Asian markets.
The new long-haul flights will be operated using EL AL’s Dreamliner aircraft, featuring three service classes: economy, premium economy, and business. In addition to the direct routes, EL AL will offer onward connections to further destinations across Asia through partnerships with multiple airlines.
With the addition of the new routes, EL AL’s destination network is expected to reach approximately 60 direct destinations, the highest number in the airline’s history. Alongside the launch of new destinations, the airline is increasing frequencies on high-demand routes. In North America, EL AL is operating up to 55 weekly flights, while services to the Far East continue to expand, including up to five weekly flights to Japan and 16 weekly flights to Thailand. Overall, EL AL is expected to operate around 900 flights per week worldwide.
EL AL has also indicated that further partnerships with leading global airlines are expected to be announced, supporting expanded connectivity, additional transfer options, and a broader global network.
Ticket sales for the new Hanoi route will begin today at noon via the EL AL website and travel agents, with flights scheduled to start in October 2026 and round-trip fares starting at $899. Sales for Seoul are expected to begin in May for flights starting in March 2027, while details for Manila will be announced at a later stage.
In parallel with the long-haul expansion, Sundor, part of the EL AL Group, is adding six new European leisure destinations. These include Catania in Sicily and Cagliari in Sardinia, alongside Basel in Switzerland, Zagreb and Dubrovnik in Croatia, and Copenhagen in Denmark. The Copenhagen route marks EL AL’s return to the Danish capital for the first time since 2001, operated by Sundor.
The European expansion is supported by fleet growth, including the addition of two Boeing 737 aircraft and an increase in leased capacity.
“The decision to expand EL AL’s operations at this time is a tangible expression of our unwavering faith in the resilience of the State of Israel and the Israeli economy. We are proud to continue building our aviation infrastructure to ensure that the Israeli flag continues to fly proudly on the tails of our aircraft at major airports worldwide. For us, EL AL is much more than an airline, it is Israel’s vital connection to the world, and we are committed to continuing to lead it toward growth and new strategic achievements.”
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