El Al Israel Airlines has unveiled one of its most ambitious growth spurts in years, announcing a slate of new direct routes that stretches from the Alps and the Adriatic to the bustling capitals of Southeast and Northeast Asia. With Croatia and Denmark now joining Switzerland, Italy, Vietnam, the Philippines, and South Korea in the carrier’s latest expansion, the flag airline is repositioning itself as a powerful connector between Israel and a widening constellation of leisure and business hubs. For travelers, the move translates into new nonstop options, seasonal escapes, and smoother itineraries at a time when demand for both city breaks and long‑haul adventures is surging.

A Major Post‑Crisis Expansion for Israel’s Flag Carrier

The announcement of nine new routes across Europe and Asia marks El Al’s first large-scale network expansion since the regional turmoil that began in October 2023 prompted many foreign carriers to scale back or suspend services to Israel. In that period, El Al and a handful of regional competitors effectively became the country’s air bridge to the world, concentrating on core destinations and high-demand corridors while growth plans were temporarily shelved. The new program, unveiled in early February 2026, signals a shift from stabilization to strategic expansion and a renewed confidence in long-term travel demand.

At the heart of the update are three long-haul routes to Asia and six leisure-focused European services, many of which will be operated by Sun D’Or, El Al’s charter and holiday subsidiary. Together, they will bring El Al’s network to a record 60 destinations once all the routes are live. In practical terms, that means more nonstop choices for Israeli travelers, diaspora communities, and inbound tourists who have historically relied on connecting flights through major hubs such as Istanbul, Vienna, Frankfurt, or Dubai to reach Southeast Asia or secondary cities in Europe.

For the airline, the move also underscores a deliberate pivot toward markets with a strong blend of tourism, trade, and diaspora demand. Vietnam, the Philippines, and South Korea are all fast-growing economies with rising outbound travel, while Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, and Denmark are among Europe’s most coveted summer destinations for Israeli holidaymakers. By plugging directly into these nodes, El Al is seeking not only to capture point-to-point traffic but also to strengthen its role as a regional connector.

The headline additions on the long-haul side are new direct services from Tel Aviv to Hanoi, Manila, and Seoul. Each of these routes is planned to operate three times per week on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering economy, premium economy, and business class. The launch timetable is staggered, with Hanoi slated to see the first flights in October 2026 and ticket sales already open, while services to Seoul are scheduled to begin in March 2027 following a sales start targeted for May 2026. Dates for the Manila launch are set to follow once the airline finalizes regulatory and commercial details.

For travelers, these flights dramatically shorten journey times that have typically required at least one stop and often complex connections. Tel Aviv to Hanoi, for example, has traditionally involved routing through hubs such as Bangkok, Doha, or Istanbul. A nonstop flight cuts hours from total travel time and simplifies baggage handling and immigration formalities. The same holds true for Tel Aviv to Manila and Tel Aviv to Seoul, where one-ticket itineraries have long been possible but rarely straightforward.

From a tourism perspective, the routes open the door to easier two-way flows. Israeli travelers gain faster access to Vietnam’s historic cities, coastlines, and mountain landscapes, to the beaches and islands of the Philippines, and to South Korea’s dynamic urban and cultural scenes. At the same time, residents of these countries will find it simpler to reach Israel’s religious sites, Mediterranean coastline, and desert scenery, as well as to use Tel Aviv as a transfer point to Europe and North America on El Al’s broader network.

Business and governmental ties are expected to benefit as well. Vietnam and South Korea are key partners for Israel in areas such as technology, manufacturing, and defense, while the Philippines has a longstanding expatriate community in Israel and growing labor and services links. By adding direct capacity, El Al is positioning itself as both a facilitator and a beneficiary of deepening economic and diplomatic relations with Asia.

Sun D’Or’s European Push: Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, and Denmark

While the new Asian routes grab attention for their distance and strategic importance, the backbone of El Al’s latest expansion lies closer to home. Sun D’Or will roll out seasonal flights to four countries that are perennial favorites among Israeli holidaymakers: Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, and Denmark. Within Italy, the focus is firmly on the islands, with new services to Catania in Sicily and Cagliari in Sardinia. Both regions offer a blend of beaches, heritage towns, and culinary traditions that have made them magnets for European summer tourism.

In Switzerland, Basel joins the network as a gateway to the Rhine, the Jura, and the broader Alpine region. Although Zurich and Geneva are better known to many travelers, Basel has carved out a niche as a cultural hub and as a convenient starting point for exploring neighboring France and Germany. Direct flights from Tel Aviv simplify access for Israelis drawn by summer hiking, winter sports, art fairs, and river cruises.

Croatia, which has rapidly grown into one of Europe’s most fashionable coastal destinations, gains particular prominence in the expansion plan. Sun D’Or will launch services to both Zagreb, the capital, and Dubrovnik, the fortified Adriatic city whose medieval walls and seaside vistas have become emblematic of the country’s tourism renaissance. With starting fares on some Croatian routes advertised from the mid-300-dollar range for round trips, these flights are expected to appeal strongly to budget-conscious families and young travelers seeking Mediterranean-style holidays outside the better-known Italian and Greek islands.

On the northern flank, Denmark joins the network through a return to Copenhagen, the country’s capital and a major Scandinavian hub. The re-entry is notable not only because it fills a longstanding gap in El Al’s European map, but also because it reconnects Israel with a city that ranks highly for design, gastronomy, and quality of life. As with the southern European additions, Copenhagen will initially be served seasonally, targeting the peak summer months when Scandinavian cities see their highest tourist influx.

Denmark and Croatia: Strategic Gateways in a Growing Network

Croatia’s inclusion in El Al’s growth story reflects broader shifts in Mediterranean travel patterns. Over the past decade, the country has successfully repositioned itself from a niche post-Yugoslav destination to a mainstream European holiday favorite. Its combination of historic towns, dramatic coastlines, and relatively competitive prices has lured visitors who might once have defaulted to Spain, Italy, or Greece. For Israeli travelers, whose peak holiday periods align closely with the European summer, nonstop flights to Zagreb and Dubrovnik reduce friction and make it easier to stitch together multi-stop itineraries that might combine Croatia with neighboring Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Montenegro.

Denmark, meanwhile, offers El Al an anchor in Scandinavia, a region it had not served directly for roughly a quarter of a century. Copenhagen is more than just the capital of Denmark; it is a central hub for travel across the Nordic region, with extensive rail and air connections to Sweden, Norway, Finland, and even the Baltic states. By serving Copenhagen, El Al gains access not only to Danish travelers heading to Israel but also to a wider pool of Nordic visitors who may find a Tel Aviv connection more convenient than routing through continental Europe or the Gulf.

For tourists, Copenhagen itself is an increasingly compelling city break. Its waterfront promenades, historic harbor, contemporary architecture, and celebrated food scene have made it a regular feature in global travel rankings. New direct flights from Tel Aviv mean Israeli travelers can now reach the city in a single hop, opening up long weekends in the Danish capital or extended journeys across the region that might also include the fjords of Norway or the forests and lakes of Sweden. For Danes and their neighbors, the reverse is true: Israel’s beaches, nightlife, and cultural sites are now closer and more accessible than they have been for decades.

Taken together, the Copenhagen and Croatian routes extend El Al’s footprint in both northern and southeastern Europe, two regions that have seen significant tourism growth but were previously less visible on the airline’s network map. They also diversify the carrier’s reliance on the traditional European core of London, Paris, and central European capitals, creating more options for dispersing seasonal demand across a wider set of destinations.

Switzerland and Italy: Alpine Peaks and Island Retreats

The decision to add Basel, Catania, and Cagliari highlights how El Al is tailoring its European strategy to tap into specific travel trends. Basel expands the airline’s reach into the tri-border area where Switzerland meets France and Germany, creating a natural entry point for river cruises along the Rhine and for visits to the Black Forest, the Alsace wine route, or the Swiss Alps. For Israelis seeking cooler summer temperatures, access to mountain resorts and lakes is a strong draw, and Basel’s well-developed transport links make it a practical starting point.

In Italy, the focus on Sicily and Sardinia aligns with the broader shift among Mediterranean travelers toward island destinations that combine seaside relaxation with culinary and cultural depth. Catania provides direct access to eastern Sicily, including Mount Etna, Taormina, and the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, while Cagliari opens the door to Sardinia’s beaches, rugged interior, and coastal drives. These islands have seen a surge of interest from travelers looking for alternatives to more crowded parts of the Mediterranean, and direct flights from Tel Aviv are likely to accelerate that trend among Israeli visitors.

For the inbound market, El Al’s presence in these destinations offers Swiss and Italian travelers new options for reaching the Middle East without relying solely on foreign carriers. Leisure travelers from Basel or the Italian islands can fly directly to Tel Aviv and onward across the airline’s network, whether to city breaks in Europe, beach holidays in Greece and Cyprus, or longer-haul journeys to North America and Asia. The seasonal nature of many of these routes allows the airline to flex capacity in line with demand, building peaks around school holidays and major events while maintaining a leaner schedule in shoulder seasons.

Price positioning is also a key element. Initial announcements suggest that starting fares on several European routes, including those to parts of Italy, Switzerland, and Croatia, are set at levels designed to attract package-holiday operators and independent travelers alike. With Sun D’Or working closely with tour companies and travel agents, it is likely that these routes will quickly be incorporated into bundled city-and-beach or multi-country itineraries targeting both Israeli and international travelers.

What the New Routes Mean for Travelers

For travelers based in Israel, the immediate impact of El Al’s expansion is a broader range of nonstop options and the possibility of more competitive pricing on key corridors. In the Asian market in particular, where alternatives often involve long connections through busy hubs, the availability of direct Dreamliner services to Hanoi, Manila, and Seoul could be a deciding factor in destination choice. The combination of three weekly flights to each of these capitals and El Al’s existing services to Thailand and Japan creates a more robust East and Southeast Asia offering than ever before.

Passengers from Europe and Asia also stand to gain. Visitors from Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, and Denmark looking to explore Israel or to use Tel Aviv as a springboard to other destinations will have more direct choices that avoid backtracking through traditional hubs. Business travelers will appreciate the reduction in connection times and the ability to work or rest more efficiently on nonstop flights, while leisure travelers can expect simpler itineraries and fewer potential points of disruption.

Connections across El Al’s network are likely to benefit as well. With new inbound flows from Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, and the expanded European roster, the airline will have greater flexibility to feed passengers into long-haul routes to North America and established European destinations. For example, a traveler from Seoul could fly nonstop to Tel Aviv, then connect onward to New York, London, or Paris on a single ticket. That reinforces Ben Gurion Airport’s evolving role as a mid-size hub linking parts of Asia, Europe, and North America.

Beyond the practicalities of schedules and fares, the expansion underscores a broader trend: as global travel recovers and reconfigures, airlines are looking for ways to spread risk and seize emerging opportunities. For El Al, that has meant stepping into markets left under-served during recent crises and committing to new long-term links that will shape tourism and business travel patterns for years to come.

Looking Ahead: Timeline, Seasonality, and Travel Planning

While the headlines around El Al’s announcement convey a sense of immediate transformation, travelers should keep in mind that the rollout of these routes will be staggered across 2026 and 2027. The Asian routes are scheduled to come online later than the European leisure services, with Hanoi set for October 2026 and Seoul following in March 2027. Manila is also in the pipeline, with details on the inaugural flights still to be announced. Many of the European routes, particularly those operated by Sun D’Or, are designed as seasonal summer services, with flight programs typically concentrated between late spring and early autumn.

For travelers planning ahead, this staggered introduction can be an advantage. Promotional fares are often strongest in the initial months after a route announcement, and tour operators will be building new packages and itineraries that make use of the direct services. Those targeting island getaways in Italy, Alpine escapes via Switzerland, Adriatic adventures in Croatia, or Scandinavian city breaks in Denmark will find more options entering the market as schedules are finalized and sales channels update their offerings.

On the corporate side, travel managers and business travelers may want to pay close attention to the evolving schedule as the Asian routes in particular come online. The combination of nonstop flights to Hanoi, Manila, and Seoul with El Al’s existing presence in Bangkok and Tokyo will significantly enhance options for corporate travel between Israel and key Asian markets. Partnerships with other airlines across Asia are expected to provide onward connectivity beyond the new capitals, making it easier to reach secondary cities without adding multiple separate tickets.

In the broader context of global aviation, El Al’s decision to tie together Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Vietnam, the Philippines, and South Korea in a single expansion wave reflects the new geography of post-crisis travel. Rather than focusing solely on megahubs or traditional trunk routes, the airline is weaving a more nuanced network that connects growing leisure hotspots with dynamic emerging markets. For tourists and travelers, it means a richer map of possibilities and a reminder that the skies over Israel are once again opening to new pathways and experiences.