El Al Israel Airlines has unveiled its most ambitious route expansion in years, announcing nine new destinations across Asia and Europe in a move that underscores the gradual recovery of Israel’s aviation sector after the Gaza war. The new network includes first-time and long-awaited connections from Tel Aviv to Hanoi, Seoul and Manila, as well as a string of leisure-focused European cities operated by El Al’s charter subsidiary Sun D’Or. Together, the routes mark the carrier’s first major growth push since the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023, signaling renewed confidence in both demand and regional stability.
First Major Expansion Since the Gaza War
El Al’s announcement, made on February 8, 2026, is widely seen as a turning point for Israel’s flagship airline. Since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 and the ensuing war in Gaza, international capacity to and from Israel has been constrained, with many foreign carriers sharply reducing or suspending flights to Tel Aviv. El Al, which continued to operate throughout the crisis, focused on maintaining essential air links and increasing frequencies on established routes rather than opening new ones.
The decision to launch nine new destinations now reflects a shift from crisis-mode operations to a renewed growth strategy. According to statements from the airline, the new routes will roll out gradually over 2026 and 2027, allowing El Al to align capacity with expected demand and adapt to any lingering security or market uncertainties. It also represents a vote of confidence in the long-term resilience of Israel’s tourism and business travel sectors, which have shown signs of recovery as regional tensions ease and global travelers return.
The expansion will bring El Al’s total destination count to around 60 cities worldwide, a record for the company. That growth is enabled in part by the airline’s improved financial performance following the pandemic and its fleet renewal program, including orders for new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and the continued deployment of Boeing 787 Dreamliners on long-haul services. By combining these aircraft with a more diversified route map, El Al aims to strengthen its position as the primary air bridge between Israel and the world.
New Asian Gateways: Hanoi, Seoul and Manila
At the core of the announcement are three new long-haul routes from Tel Aviv to the capitals of Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines. El Al will offer three flights a week to each of Hanoi, Seoul and Manila, using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet and offering economy, premium economy and business class cabins. The new services are designed to capture the rising demand for both leisure and business travel between Israel and Asia.
Flights to Hanoi are scheduled to begin in October 2026, with initial round-trip economy fares starting at around 899 dollars. The Vietnam service will place El Al in direct competition with Arkia, which has already launched nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and Hanoi. For travelers, that competition should translate into more choice, flexible schedules and potentially sharper pricing on one of Asia’s most dynamic tourism and business markets.
The route to Seoul is expected to begin in March 2027, with ticket sales due to open in May 2026. The Tel Aviv–Seoul connection has been served in the past by Korean Air, but direct flights were suspended after the outbreak of the regional conflict in October 2023. El Al’s entry will not only restore a key link to the Korean Peninsula but also highlight the strengthening trade and technology relationships between Israel and South Korea, particularly in fields such as electronics, defense and innovation.
Manila represents perhaps the most symbolic of the three new Asian routes. El Al’s new service will mark the first-ever direct air connection between Israel and the Philippines, significantly reducing travel time between the two countries. The airline has not yet announced a start date or initial fare levels, but said the service will operate three times a week and is expected to support both tourism and the growing Filipino community working in Israel. Flight times are anticipated to be around 11 hours from Tel Aviv to Manila and just over 12 hours on the return leg.
European Leisure Expansion via Sun D’Or
Alongside the Asia-focused growth, El Al is also targeting the European leisure market through its charter and holiday subsidiary Sun D’Or. Six new destinations are being added to the schedule: Catania in Sicily, Cagliari in Sardinia, Basel in Switzerland, and the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Dubrovnik, as well as a long-awaited return to Copenhagen in Denmark. These routes are planned as seasonal or high-demand services, optimized for holiday periods and short breaks.
The choice of destinations reflects Israelis’ enduring appetite for Mediterranean and Central European getaways. Sicily and Sardinia offer a blend of beaches, historic towns and regional cuisine, while the Croatian coast has become an increasingly popular alternative to more crowded Mediterranean hotspots. Basel, located at the crossroads of Switzerland, France and Germany, adds a culturally rich city break option with easy rail connections across central Europe.
Particularly notable is El Al’s return to Copenhagen, a route that the carrier has not served since 2001. With Sun D’Or scheduled to operate the Denmark service, Israelis will regain a direct link to Scandinavia’s design-focused, eco-conscious capital, known for its cycling culture, harborfront and vibrant restaurant scene. The relaunch also positions El Al to capture connecting traffic to wider Nordic and Baltic destinations through regional partnerships and ground transport.
Introductory fares on the new European routes are pitched to appeal to cost-conscious leisure travelers. Early indications suggest round-trip prices starting from about 339 dollars for Sardinia and Croatian cities, from 389 dollars for Sicily, and from 439 dollars for Basel. Copenhagen, as a higher-cost northern destination, is expected to see starting prices from around 529 dollars. These fare levels place Sun D’Or in competitive territory against European low-cost and legacy airlines serving similar markets via indirect connections.
Strategic Timing in a Recovering Aviation Market
El Al’s expansion comes at a delicate moment for both Israel’s aviation sector and global air travel more broadly. After two years marked by security concerns, regulatory restrictions and volatile demand patterns, airlines operating to and from Israel are gradually restoring capacity. While some major international carriers have returned, overall foreign competition remains below pre-conflict levels, leaving space for El Al to strengthen its market share on key routes.
By announcing routes that will come into effect mostly from late 2026 onward, El Al is signaling a long-term bet rather than a short-term gamble. This staged rollout allows the airline to monitor geopolitical developments, track demand trends and adjust fleet deployment before the first flights take off. It also gives travelers, tour operators and business partners ample time to plan itineraries, conferences and group travel tied to the new services.
Industry observers point out that El Al has been gradually building towards such a move. In 2024 and 2025, the airline reported record profits and strong revenue growth, aided by high demand on core routes and the relative scarcity of international capacity into Israel. The carrier also secured a major agreement for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from 2028, laying the groundwork for more efficient operations and future network flexibility. Against this backdrop, the nine new routes appear as a logical next step in a broader modernization and expansion strategy.
The timing also aligns with forecasts of continued growth in global tourism, particularly between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. As travelers seek more direct, time-saving connections and diversify their destination choices, airlines that can offer nonstop routes to previously underserved markets are likely to gain a competitive edge. El Al is clearly positioning itself to be one of those carriers.
Boosting Tourism, Business and Cultural Exchange
Beyond the airline’s own balance sheet, the new routes are expected to generate wider economic benefits. Direct flights typically drive up visitor numbers by simplifying travel logistics, reducing total journey times and increasing visibility of destinations in travelers’ minds. Israeli tourism officials and local industry stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the new connections translate into hotel bookings, tour activity and conference traffic.
In the case of Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines, El Al’s expansion taps into markets with growing middle classes and rising outbound tourism. Hanoi and the surrounding region are attracting an increasing share of international arrivals drawn by cultural heritage, natural landscapes and a booming culinary scene. Seoul, a global hub for technology, entertainment and design, is already well known among Israeli business travelers and younger tourists captivated by Korean pop culture.
Manila, meanwhile, offers both gateway access to the wider Philippines archipelago and a direct link to the significant Filipino diaspora in Israel. For thousands of workers and their families, a nonstop flight between Tel Aviv and Manila promises not only convenience but also more frequent and affordable trips home, potentially strengthening community ties and remittance flows.
On the European side, the Sun D’Or destinations play into Israelis’ preference for short-haul vacations and city breaks, supporting outbound tourism while also opening opportunities for inbound visitors from those regions. European tour operators may find it easier to package Israel as a destination when nonstop flights to and from coastal Croatia, Switzerland or Scandinavia are available, particularly for niche markets such as religious tourism, culture-focused itineraries and winter sun escapes.
Fleet, Product and Partnerships
The use of Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the Asian routes underscores El Al’s intention to compete not only on schedule but also on onboard product. The Dreamliner cabin, with improved air quality, larger windows and modern in-flight entertainment, is central to the airline’s long-haul strategy. El Al will offer three service classes on these flights: economy for price-conscious travelers, premium economy for those seeking additional comfort without the full business-class price tag, and a business cabin aimed at corporate travelers and high-spending tourists.
This cabin configuration is designed to capture a broad spectrum of demand on routes where both tourism and corporate travel are expected to be significant. As ties deepen between Israel and East Asian economies, particularly in technology, defense, agriculture and infrastructure, demand for premium cabins is likely to grow. By pairing its updated hard product with competitive schedules and frequent-flyer benefits, El Al hopes to attract both Israeli business travelers and international corporate clients.
El Al also plans to complement its own network with partnerships across Asia. While details have not been fully disclosed, the airline has indicated that it will offer connections beyond its new Asian gateways through interline and codeshare agreements. For travelers, that means smoother journeys from Tel Aviv via Hanoi, Seoul or Manila to secondary cities across Southeast and East Asia, using a single ticket and coordinated baggage handling.
On the European leisure routes, Sun D’Or will continue to operate a simplified, holiday-oriented product tailored to seasonal demand. While not offering the same level of premium cabin service as the mainline, the charter arm allows the group to quickly adjust capacity, respond to tour-operator contracts and maintain a cost structure suitable for price-sensitive vacation traffic. This dual approach lets the El Al group serve both high-yield long-haul markets and volume-driven holiday routes without diluting the brand’s core positioning.
What Travelers Can Expect Next
For travelers, the most immediate impact of El Al’s announcement will be the opening of ticket sales, particularly for Hanoi, where bookings have already gone on sale for October 2026 departures. Prospective passengers are likely to compare prices and schedules with existing connections via regional hubs such as Bangkok, Istanbul or Dubai, weighing the convenience of a nonstop flight against any cost differentials.
In the coming months, marketing campaigns are expected to highlight the cultural and experiential appeal of the new destinations, from Vietnamese street food and Korean cityscapes to Sicilian coastal towns and the medieval walls of Dubrovnik. Tour operators in Israel may respond by designing new package holidays and thematic tours aligned with the launch dates, offering early-bird promotions tied to the start of operations.
Frequent flyers and corporate travel managers will be watching closely how El Al integrates the new routes into its loyalty program and corporate contracts. Additional long-haul options in Asia could make it easier for multinational companies with operations in both Israel and East Asia to centralize their travel spend with a single carrier. At the same time, competitive pricing and capacity growth may exert downward pressure on fares across certain markets, benefiting price-savvy leisure travelers.
While the geopolitical landscape in the region remains complex, El Al’s nine-route expansion sends a clear signal that the airline is looking beyond recent crises toward a more connected future. For TheTraveler.org’s readers, it opens up a raft of new possibilities: wandering Hanoi’s Old Quarter after a single overnight flight, sampling Seoul’s cutting-edge food and fashion scenes on a long weekend, or pairing an Israeli city break with a Nordic escape via Copenhagen. As these routes come online over the next two years, Israel’s position on the global travel map looks set to grow stronger than ever.