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Israel’s flag carrier El Al is pushing ahead with its largest network expansion since the 2023 regional conflict, adding nine new destinations as international airlines gradually restore flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
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Major Network Expansion Anchored in Asia and Europe
Publicly available information shows that El Al plans to introduce nine new international destinations across 2026 and 2027, in what analysts describe as a strategic shift from crisis management to measured growth. Industry data indicates that this is the carrier’s first sizeable growth move since hostilities in October 2023 reshaped Israel’s aviation landscape.
The centerpiece of the expansion is a trio of long-haul routes to Asia: Hanoi in Vietnam, Seoul in South Korea and Manila in the Philippines. Reports indicate that each of these cities will initially be served three times per week from Tel Aviv, using widebody aircraft aimed at both leisure and business travelers.
Alongside the Asian launches, El Al’s leisure subsidiary Sun D’Or is expected to open or reinforce six seasonal and year-round routes into Europe. Destinations highlighted in recent coverage include Basel, Copenhagen, Zagreb, Dubrovnik and the Italian cities of Catania and Cagliari, broadening the airline group’s reach into high-demand summer markets.
Network planning analyses suggest that the nine-city package is calibrated to capture rising demand from both outbound Israeli travelers and inbound tourism, while also diversifying away from a historic concentration on North American routes.
First Large Move Since War as Capacity Climbs Back
Industry trackers note that El Al’s expansion comes after a prolonged period in which the airline focused primarily on operational continuity and humanitarian connectivity, including special services to North America during periods of restricted foreign capacity. With regional airspace now more open, capacity at Ben Gurion Airport has begun to recover.
Schedules data compiled for early 2026 shows that El Al’s overall seat offering is already trending above the previous year, as additional frequencies are added on core routes to New York, Los Angeles, Miami and select European capitals. The nine new destinations build on this trend by adding entirely new city pairs rather than simply restoring suspended routes.
Aviation analysts quoted across several trade publications describe the 2026 and 2027 timetable as a pivot from defensive scheduling to proactive growth. The long-haul additions in particular are seen as a statement that El Al aims to compete more directly for Asia-bound traffic that previously flowed almost entirely over foreign hubs.
At the same time, capacity growth remains measured. Most of the announced routes will begin at three weekly frequencies or seasonal operations, a structure that allows the airline to monitor demand and adjust without overextending its fleet.
New Links to Asia Reflect Shifting Travel and Trade Priorities
El Al’s decision to prioritize Hanoi, Seoul and Manila reflects wider shifts in Israel’s travel patterns and economic ties. Tourism operators report growing interest among Israeli travelers in Southeast and East Asian destinations, from backpacking and beach holidays to culinary and cultural tourism.
Hanoi is expected to appeal strongly to independent travelers and tour groups combining Vietnam with neighboring countries, while also serving emerging trade flows as Vietnamese exports to Israel increase. Seoul, by contrast, is seen as a premium market combining technology, culture and business connections, with interest driven in part by Korean pop culture and electronics brands.
Manila provides a new gateway to the Philippines and its resort destinations, while also linking communities with family ties and labor corridors between Israel and the Philippines. Travel trade publications note that the route could support both inbound tourism to Israel and outbound traffic to Southeast Asia’s island destinations.
By providing nonstop options on these routes, El Al reduces the need for Israeli passengers to connect through regional hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai or Doha for Asia travel. Aviation analysts suggest that the airline is seeking to reclaim a share of higher-yield, long-haul traffic that migrated to rival carriers during the recent period of disruption.
European Leisure Network Bolstered Through Sun D’Or
On the European front, the Sun D’Or brand is playing a central role in the nine-destination strategy. According to published schedules, the subsidiary will operate many of the new or expanded routes into secondary European cities, targeting price-sensitive holidaymakers and package-tour operators.
Cities such as Basel, Copenhagen, Zagreb and Dubrovnik are positioned as attractive gateways to wider regions, including the Alps, Scandinavia and the Adriatic coast. Catania and Cagliari give El Al and Sun D’Or additional access to Mediterranean beach and heritage destinations in Sicily and Sardinia, markets that have seen steady demand from Israeli travelers in recent years.
Travel trade coverage indicates that these destinations are timed to match peak holiday seasons, with flights often concentrated in late spring, summer and early autumn. The approach enables the airline group to rotate capacity between markets while better utilizing aircraft outside long-haul departure banks.
The expanded European network also strengthens connectivity from Israel to smaller regional airports, complementing existing links to major hubs such as London, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam that are primarily served by El Al’s mainline operation and foreign partners.
Foreign Carriers Gradually Resume Services to Tel Aviv
El Al’s network build-out coincides with a broader trend of international airlines returning to Israel as security conditions stabilize and airspace restrictions ease. Recent reports point to a gradual resumption of flights from a mix of European, Gulf and Asian carriers, following widespread suspensions during the height of the conflict.
Regional aviation coverage notes that carriers such as Flydubai, Etihad, Ethiopian Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Georgian Airways are among those that have either resumed or announced plans to restart services to Tel Aviv, often at reduced frequencies that can be scaled up as demand returns. Several European network airlines are reported to be rebuilding their Israel schedules as well.
This incremental comeback of foreign airlines is reshaping the competitive environment for El Al. On one hand, returning international capacity eases pressure on the national carrier, which had been one of the few operators maintaining consistent long-haul connectivity from Israel during some of the most challenging months.
On the other hand, renewed competition on key city pairs is likely to influence pricing and schedules. Aviation analysts suggest that El Al’s decision to add distinctive new destinations in Asia and secondary cities in Europe is partly motivated by a desire to differentiate its network rather than rely solely on heavily contested trunk routes.
Signals of a Cautious but Accelerating Recovery
Together, El Al’s nine new destinations and the gradual return of foreign airlines are being interpreted across the travel sector as signs of a cautious but accelerating recovery at Ben Gurion Airport. Passenger numbers remain sensitive to security developments, yet recent schedule announcements point toward renewed confidence in medium-term demand.
Industry observers highlight that Israel’s aviation market has historically rebounded quickly from downturns, supported by strong visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic, resilient business ties and a robust outbound leisure segment. The current wave of route announcements appears to follow this pattern, albeit with more emphasis on diversification and flexible capacity.
For travelers, the coming months are expected to bring an expanding menu of nonstop options out of Tel Aviv, from new long-haul services to Hanoi, Seoul and Manila to seasonal leisure flights into Europe’s secondary cities. As airlines refine their schedules ahead of the 2026 summer season, the balance between national and foreign carriers at Israel’s main gateway will continue to evolve.
While risks remain, the trend line now points away from emergency operations and toward a more competitive, network-driven phase for Israel’s air travel market, with El Al’s nine-route expansion serving as one of the clearest indicators of that shift.