The announcement that German leisure carrier Condor will resume regular flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv in May 2026 is more than a simple network update. Coming after more than two years of conflict-related disruption and cautious tourism recovery, the decision is being closely watched across the industry as a potential inflection point both for Israel’s inbound tourism and for broader airline confidence in the market. While visitor numbers remain far below pre-pandemic and pre-war peaks, Condor’s move, timed to its 70th anniversary and explicitly framed as a bridge between Europe, North America and Israel, suggests that key players now see sufficient stability and demand to justify renewed investment in Tel Aviv service.
A Symbolic Return to Condor’s Roots
Condor’s decision carries a historical weight that goes beyond capacity figures. The airline’s very first flight, operated on 29 March 1956, was a pilgrimage service from Frankfurt to the Holy Land. In its announcement on 3 February 2026, the carrier emphasized that resuming Tel Aviv flights in its anniversary year marks a return to a route that helped define early German leisure aviation and established a template for faith-based and cultural tourism to Israel.
The new Frankfurt to Tel Aviv route, scheduled to start in May 2026 and operated with an Airbus A320, effectively revives that heritage. Condor executives have highlighted Tel Aviv’s dual identity as both a modern economic hub and a gateway to sites of deep religious and historical significance. The airline is positioning the service not only for point-to-point traffic but also as a connector through its Frankfurt hub, enabling travelers from across Europe and North America to reach Israel with a single stop.
German officials have also framed the route as a statement about contemporary ties between Germany and Israel. The Commissioner of the Hessian State Government for Jewish Life and the Fight against Antisemitism welcomed the decision as a contribution to person-to-person contact, arguing that direct air links create opportunities for encounters that shape perceptions more powerfully than any statement or policy. Against a backdrop of heightened political sensitivities and security concerns, the symbolic value of restoring this channel of exchange is significant.
From Near Standstill to Fragile Recovery
To understand why Condor’s new route matters, it is important to consider how far Israeli tourism has had to climb back since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza. In 2019, Israel welcomed around 4.55 million visitors, generating billions of dollars in tourism receipts. By 2023, inbound tourism was still on a recovery path from the pandemic, with approximately 3 million visitors over the year, and monthly arrivals in early autumn approaching pre-2019 levels before the conflict erupted.
The war triggered an immediate collapse in foreign arrivals. Data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics show that visitor entries in late 2023 and early 2024 plunged, with just over 53,000 arrivals recorded in December 2023 and about 59,000 in January 2024, compared with more than 270,000 in January 2023. What had been a story of post-Covid resurgence suddenly turned into a dual crisis, as the industry struggled with both security concerns and the logistical impact of mass mobilization and evacuations.
Throughout 2024 and into early 2025, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism described a “sluggish” but persistent recovery. Domestic travel helped fill hotel rooms, many of which were also used to house evacuees from border communities. Internationally, the picture was volatile, with visitors spooked by headlines yet still drawn by religious, cultural and family ties. Monthly figures fluctuated sharply, reflecting both security developments and the on-again, off-again decisions of foreign carriers about their Tel Aviv routes.
Airline Confidence: A Key Barometer
Air connectivity has been one of the clearest indicators of sentiment toward Israel as a destination since late 2023. Israeli carriers such as El Al, Arkia and Israir maintained core operations even during the worst months of the conflict. Foreign airlines, by contrast, largely suspended flights after October 7, then returned slowly and unevenly as conditions allowed, often to suspend again when regional tensions spiked.
United Airlines, for example, repeatedly halted and resumed service, at one point announcing the restart of New York and Newark to Tel Aviv flights only to suspend them again following missile incidents and new escalations. By mid-2025, United had once more resumed daily service and later expanded to routes from Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles, underscoring both the importance of the Tel Aviv market and the complexity of operating there. Delta also cycled in and out of the market during 2024 and 2025, while British Airways suspended Tel Aviv service into mid-2025 citing crew safety.
This inconsistent pattern reinforced the perception of Israel as a high-risk destination, complicating planning for tour operators and depressing confidence among leisure travelers. Each resumption, however, chipped away at that narrative and suggested that risk assessments were evolving. The fact that by late 2025 a “long list” of foreign airlines had restored some level of service laid the groundwork for leisure-focused carriers like Condor to contemplate their own return.
Visitor Numbers Show a Turning Point
Tourism statistics for 2025 indicate that despite ongoing volatility, demand for travel to Israel is recovering more robustly than many expected in the immediate aftermath of the war. According to data released by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism and summarized by several outlets, the country welcomed roughly 1.3 to 1.34 million international visitors in 2025. That figure represents an increase of nearly 60 percent over 2024, when inbound arrivals were just under 1 million, but remains far below the 3 million-plus total recorded in 2023.
The recovery is concentrated in core source markets that have long fueled tourism to Israel. The United States remained the single largest origin country, with around 400,000 visitors in 2025. France followed with about 159,000 tourists, and the United Kingdom with roughly 95,000. Other important contributors included Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Canada and Romania. These numbers underline that despite travel warnings and security headlines, many repeat and first-time visitors continue to view Israel as a compelling destination.
Visitor surveys conducted by the Ministry of Tourism show high levels of satisfaction among those who do come. Around 88 percent of respondents in 2025 described their trip as satisfying, and more than 80 percent said they would recommend Israel to others. Interestingly, the composition of visitors appears to be shifting. A larger share now identifies as pilgrims, and visiting friends and relatives remains the leading motivation, ahead of leisure and business travel. These trends suggest that emotionally and personally motivated trips have been the first to rebound, with more discretionary holidaymakers slower to return.
How Condor’s Route Could Reshape Flows
In this context, Condor’s planned Frankfurt to Tel Aviv service could punch above its weight in several ways. First, Frankfurt is one of Europe’s key intercontinental hubs, with dense connections to secondary cities across the continent and a growing network to North America. By feeding Tel Aviv traffic through this node, Condor offers a new option not only for German travelers but also for passengers from markets such as Scandinavia, Central Europe, the United Kingdom and even the United States and Canada who connect via Frankfurt.
Second, Condor is a leisure specialist, attuned to the needs of holidaymakers, pilgrimage groups and independent travelers who may be more price-sensitive than business passengers. Its Airbus A320 service, paired with flexible fare options and ancillary services, can appeal to travelers considering a medium-haul city break, a beach holiday along Israel’s Mediterranean coast, or a multi-center trip combining Tel Aviv with Jerusalem, Galilee or Jordan.
Third, the airline’s explicit messaging around cultural and historical ties positions the route as part of a broader narrative of reconnection. By highlighting Tel Aviv’s role in its own story and framing the flight as a “bridge of understanding,” Condor taps into a segment of travelers motivated by heritage, interfaith dialogue and educational travel. This could stimulate demand from organized tours, church and synagogue groups, and cultural institutions that may have postponed trips during the conflict years.
Opportunities and Constraints for Israel’s Tourism Sector
For Israel’s tourism industry, additional international capacity from Europe is both an opportunity and a test. Hotels, tour operators and local guides are eager to rebuild after a period in which many properties housed evacuees, revenues plunged and staffing became unpredictable. An influx of new visitors from Condor’s network could help restore occupancy levels, generate foreign exchange and support employment across the value chain.
At the same time, the sector must ensure that the quality of the visitor experience remains high as volumes rise. Surveys show that tourists are spending more per trip than before, but staying for slightly shorter periods on average. That combination reflects both higher costs and a preference for more focused itineraries. To capitalize on returning air links, Israeli destinations will need to emphasize service standards, safety communication, and diversified product offerings that encourage longer stays and repeat visits.
There is also a strategic dimension. Israel’s pre-2020 growth in tourism rested in part on expanding its appeal beyond traditional faith and diaspora segments to attract city-breakers, culinary travelers and sun-and-sea holidaymakers. The conflict years risked narrowing that base by scaring off casual visitors. If Condor and other leisure carriers successfully market Tel Aviv again as a gateway to food, nightlife, culture and beach life, they could help revive that broader positioning and reduce overreliance on any single source market or motivation segment.
Security, Perception and the Question of Stability
Despite the positive signals, Condor’s move does not by itself guarantee a smooth path ahead. The Middle East security environment remains fluid, and airlines have shown they will not hesitate to adjust schedules in response to new risks. The experience of 2024 and 2025, when carriers such as United and Delta repeatedly paused and restarted Tel Aviv service, is a reminder that confidence can be fragile.
For potential visitors, perception often matters as much as reality. Even when tourism professionals and returning travelers highlight a sense of safety in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, international news coverage of missile attacks or regional confrontations can prompt last-minute cancellations and deter new bookings. The Israeli authorities and industry stakeholders will need to continue proactive communication about safety protocols, civil defense measures and practical information for tourists, from shelter procedures to travel insurance considerations.
Condor’s decision suggests that its management and regulators now view the risk as manageable within standard aviation safety frameworks. If the route launches and operates smoothly through summer 2026, it could help normalize Tel Aviv’s image among mainstream European travelers in particular. Conversely, any major security incident affecting aviation or tourist areas would quickly be reflected in schedules and load factors, underlining the continued sensitivity of the market.
What It Means for Travelers Considering Israel in 2026
For travelers in Europe and North America weighing a trip to Israel in late 2026 and beyond, Condor’s return is one more sign that the destination is re-emerging as part of the regular tourism map. When combined with the restored services of U.S., Canadian and various European airlines, it will give consumers more choice on schedules, fares and routing, which in turn can make package deals and tailor-made itineraries more competitive.
Leisure visitors can expect a tourism infrastructure that is significantly less crowded than in the record-breaking years of 2018 and 2019, yet increasingly well-prepared. Attractions from the beaches of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem’s Old City, the Negev desert and the Galilee are open and actively courting international guests. Many hotels that adapted to wartime demands are working to refresh their offerings, while guides and operators are designing itineraries that acknowledge recent history without letting it dominate the travel experience.
For the industry, Condor’s May 2026 launch will be monitored as a bellwether. Strong bookings and stable operations would likely encourage other carriers still on the sidelines to reassess their own Tel Aviv strategies. Weak demand or renewed disruption could have the opposite effect. Either way, the route underscores a central reality of tourism in the region: aviation decisions are not merely commercial calculations, but also powerful signals about confidence, connection and the desire for people-to-people contact in difficult times.