El Al Plans Direct Vietnam–Israel Flights, Boosting Links

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Vietnam and Israel are moving to significantly deepen their tourism and aviation ties, as El Al prepares to launch direct flights between Tel Aviv and Hanoi, adding a fresh long-haul bridge between Southeast Asia and the Middle East at a time of fast-evolving regional air networks.

El Al Enters a Growing Vietnam–Israel Corridor

Publicly available information from Vietnamese and Israeli outlets shows that El Al Israel Airlines is planning a new nonstop service linking Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport with Hanoi in late 2026, providing the flag carrier’s first direct passenger route to Vietnam. Industry reports describe the move as a strategic extension of El Al’s long-haul portfolio, which has recently focused on selective network growth alongside cautious capacity management.

The planned route follows a period in which Israeli carriers have gradually rebuilt and diversified their international networks while navigating regional security concerns and fluctuating demand. By targeting Hanoi, El Al is positioning itself to tap into both leisure and business flows between the two countries, complementing existing indirect options that route passengers via hubs such as Bangkok, Singapore or Istanbul.

While final details on exact launch dates and frequencies have not yet been published, coverage in regional business media indicates that the carrier is working with Vietnamese counterparts to align schedules and airport operations. The service is expected to operate from Ben Gurion to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, cutting journey times for travelers who currently rely on one or two-stop itineraries.

El Al’s entry into the Vietnam market comes as the airline seeks to leverage strong outbound demand from Israel, including pent-up appetite for new destinations in Asia. Analysts tracking the carrier’s financial and network performance note that the airline has recorded robust results despite regional instability, giving it more room to invest in carefully chosen long-haul links.

Arkia’s Early Start Sets the Stage

The El Al plan builds on momentum created by Arkia Israeli Airlines, which earlier in 2026 became the first carrier to operate direct commercial flights between Tel Aviv and Hanoi. Vietnamese aviation announcements and industry route trackers report that Arkia inaugurated the Tel Aviv–Hanoi route on January 5, operating a weekly round trip with a wide-body aircraft during the initial phase.

Those flights, running between January and June 2026, have been described by Vietnamese airport authorities as a milestone for bilateral aviation cooperation and tourism development. The service cuts total travel time to around 11 to 12 hours and removes the need for transfer stops, a change that local tourism operators say makes Vietnam far more competitive for Israeli travelers looking at Southeast Asian destinations.

More recently, Arkia has announced an additional route from Tel Aviv to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest urban center and commercial hub. According to Vietnamese and Israeli media coverage, the airline plans two weekly flights to Vietnam, with one rotation to Hanoi and another to Ho Chi Minh City, giving passengers the option to arrive in the capital and depart from the south, or vice versa.

This pattern of staggered entries by Arkia and El Al points to a broader reconfiguration of Israel’s long-haul connectivity, in which secondary carriers test new markets that later attract interest from the national airline. For Vietnam, the dual presence of a leisure-focused operator and a full-service flag carrier offers a more resilient foundation for long-term air links.

Tourism and Trade Flows Set to Accelerate

Tourism agencies in both countries have identified Vietnam and Israel as increasingly important emerging markets for each other, particularly since the Vietnam–Israel Free Trade Agreement came into force in late 2024. Public statements and trade promotion documents emphasize growing cooperation in high-tech, agriculture, water management and innovation, sectors that often generate frequent business travel.

Travel industry reports highlight that Vietnamese destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay and the central coast are gaining popularity among Israeli visitors who previously focused on Thailand and other nearby markets. Direct flights reduce overall trip complexity and make it easier for tour operators to package Vietnam as a stand-alone destination rather than part of multi-country itineraries.

On the outbound side, Vietnam’s expanding middle class and a rising number of long-haul travelers are creating new demand for culturally oriented trips to Israel. Religious heritage sites, culinary tourism and combined Israel–Europe journeys are being promoted more actively in Vietnamese travel brochures and digital platforms, with direct air links expected to make such packages more price-competitive.

Beyond passenger travel, both governments and business groups view direct services as an enabler for cargo growth. Faster transit times between Tel Aviv and Hanoi are expected to support trade in agricultural products, consumer goods, electronics and high-value components, helping companies on both sides integrate more closely into regional and global supply chains.

Reshaping Long-Haul Options Across Asia and the Middle East

The emerging Vietnam–Israel air corridor is also reshaping long-haul connectivity patterns across Asia and the Middle East, providing an alternative to traditional transfer hubs. With nonstop links in place, travelers can pair Israel with broader itineraries in mainland Southeast Asia by using Vietnam’s extensive domestic and regional networks.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City serve as major gateways for flights across Vietnam and to regional destinations in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and the wider ASEAN region. This allows Israeli travelers arriving on direct flights to connect onward with a single additional leg, reducing overall travel time to many points in Asia compared with itineraries that require backtracking through Gulf or European hubs.

Conversely, Vietnamese passengers can reach the Middle East and onward points in Europe and North America through Tel Aviv, where El Al and its partners operate a range of long-haul services. Industry observers note that as security conditions and airline strategies evolve, networks built around key nodes such as Tel Aviv, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are likely to become more important in structuring East–West traffic flows.

This emerging pattern reflects a broader trend in global aviation, where secondary city pairs and niche corridors are gaining prominence alongside established mega-hubs. The Vietnam–Israel connection exemplifies how targeted bilateral routes can create new travel options without relying solely on the largest transit airports.

Opportunities and Challenges for Carriers and Travelers

For airlines, the developing Vietnam–Israel market presents both opportunities and operational challenges. Demand for leisure, business and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel is growing, but carriers must calibrate capacity carefully in light of regional security risks, fuel price volatility and shifting competitive dynamics on long-haul routes.

Reports on Israel’s aviation sector indicate that carriers serving Ben Gurion Airport have periodically adjusted schedules and aircraft deployment in response to geopolitical tensions and temporary airspace restrictions. Vietnam’s operators, meanwhile, are balancing robust domestic growth with cautious international expansion, focusing on routes where sustained demand appears most likely.

Travelers stand to benefit from greater choice, shorter journey times and more stable pricing as competition and capacity increase on the Vietnam–Israel corridor. However, industry analysts advise passengers to pay close attention to schedule updates and booking conditions, given that long-haul routes touching politically sensitive regions can experience sudden timetable changes.

If El Al’s planned Tel Aviv–Hanoi flights proceed on the proposed timeline and Arkia’s existing Vietnam services continue to mature, the next two years could mark a decisive shift in how travelers move between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. For tourism boards, airports and businesses in both countries, the stakes are high, as aviation connectivity increasingly underpins broader economic and cultural ties.