El Al Israel Airlines is taking a decisive step back onto the global stage, unveiling nine new international destinations that will reshape its network across Europe and Asia. The expansion, centered on new links to Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland and more, marks the carrier’s most ambitious route growth since the outbreak of war in 2023 and signals a renewed confidence in demand for both business and leisure travel. With services rolling out through 2026 and 2027, El Al and its leisure subsidiary Sun D’Or are positioning Israel as a more connected hub between the Mediterranean, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
El Al’s Biggest Network Expansion Since 2023
The latest announcement marks El Al’s first major wave of new routes since hostilities in the region forced airlines to consolidate and focus on core markets. After several years of cautiously rebuilding frequencies to established destinations, the carrier is now moving into a new growth phase, using its modern long haul fleet and a refreshed strategy to reach untapped or under-served cities. The nine new routes significantly increase El Al’s footprint and bring the total number of destinations served by the airline group to a record level.
The heart of the expansion is a trio of long haul services into Asia: Hanoi in Vietnam, Seoul in South Korea and Manila in the Philippines. These additions deepen El Al’s presence beyond its existing Asian gateways such as Bangkok and Tokyo, and reflect a clear shift towards markets where both tourism and trade with Israel have been rising. At the same time, Sun D’Or will add six seasonal leisure routes to Italy, Croatia, Switzerland and Denmark, offering Israelis more options for summer escapes to European beaches, islands and historic cities.
For El Al management, the timing is strategic. Demand for international travel from Israel has rebounded, and travelers are once again looking for direct connections rather than complex itineraries through multiple hubs. By responding with a slate of new point to point links, the airline is aiming to capture a larger share of outbound tourism while attracting inbound visitors who might previously have overlooked Israel as a convenient gateway to the wider region.
New Asian Gateways: Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines
The most striking element of the expansion is El Al’s renewed bet on Asia. The carrier will launch thrice weekly nonstops from Tel Aviv to Hanoi, Seoul and Manila, all operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft configured with economy, premium economy and business class cabins. This uniform three class offering underscores the dual focus of the routes: premium demand from corporate and governmental traffic, alongside strong leisure flows in both directions.
Hanoi will be the first of the new Asian cities to see service. Ticket sales opened in February 2026 for flights beginning in October 2026, with round trip economy fares advertised from 899 dollars. The Vietnam route not only adds a popular destination for Israeli backpackers and leisure travelers, it also connects Israel more closely with one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies. Hanoi’s role as a political and economic center makes it a natural fit for Israeli tech, defense and infrastructure firms seeking opportunities in the region.
Seoul will follow as the next major addition, with sales slated to begin in May 2026 and flights targeted to commence in March 2027. South Korea is already a significant trading partner for Israel, particularly in electronics, automotive components and high tech manufacturing. A direct link between Tel Aviv and the South Korean capital is expected to shorten travel times for business delegations, foster new joint ventures and encourage tourism in both directions, tapping into growing curiosity among Korean travelers about Israel’s history, culture and religious sites.
Manila rounds out the trio of new Asian capitals. Details of launch dates and introductory fares have yet to be finalized, but El Al has committed to operating three flights a week. The Philippines is home to a sizeable community of Filipino workers in Israel, and the direct link is expected to be especially meaningful for visiting friends and relatives traffic. At the same time, the route opens a new leisure corridor, with Philippine beaches, dive sites and island resorts becoming more accessible to Israeli holidaymakers, and Israeli destinations gaining visibility in the Philippine outbound market.
European Leisure Focus: Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy
While El Al mainline focuses on Asia, its charter and leisure arm Sun D’Or will take charge of six new short haul routes across Europe. Beginning in 2026, the subsidiary will add services to Basel in Switzerland; Zagreb and Dubrovnik in Croatia; Copenhagen in Denmark; and the Italian cities of Catania in Sicily and Cagliari in Sardinia. These destinations, operated on a seasonal basis, are carefully aligned with the preferences of Israeli vacationers for coastal escapes, cultural city breaks and family friendly summer holidays.
Croatia is the clear standout in the Mediterranean mix. With new flights to both Zagreb and Dubrovnik, Sun D’Or is staking a claim in a market that has been rapidly gaining favor among travelers seeking alternatives to traditional Mediterranean hotspots. Zagreb offers a charming Central European capital with easy onward access to national parks and inland attractions, while Dubrovnik’s walled old town and Adriatic coastline have become emblematic of Croatia’s tourism boom. Introductory round trip fares to Croatian destinations are expected to start around 339 dollars, which could make the country even more attractive relative to more expensive Western European destinations.
Denmark’s capital Copenhagen represents a different kind of win. El Al, via Sun D’Or, will return to the city for the first time since 2001, re establishing an air bridge between Israel and Scandinavia that had been missing for a quarter of a century. For Israeli travelers, Copenhagen offers design focused culture, cycling friendly streets and a gateway to the wider Nordic region. For Scandinavian visitors, the route adds a convenient non stop option for business, pilgrimages, and winter sun escapes. The service is expected to be priced from about 529 dollars round trip, reflecting Copenhagen’s status as a higher cost market.
Basel, positioned on the Rhine at the intersection of Switzerland, France and Germany, joins the network as a compact cultural hub with strong business travel potential. With fares from roughly 439 dollars, the route will serve both leisure tourists drawn to Swiss landscapes and corporate travelers heading to trade fairs, pharmaceuticals companies and finance houses. The Italian additions of Catania and Cagliari, with starting fares around 389 dollars to Sicily and 339 dollars to Sardinia, reinforce Sun D’Or’s established strength in Italy, giving Israelis more seasonal capacity to islands famous for volcanic landscapes, beaches, food and heritage.
Timelines, Fleet and Onboard Experience
El Al’s expansion is structured as a multi year rollout rather than a sudden surge in capacity. European leisure services are scheduled to operate mainly in the 2026 summer season, with travel windows roughly from late May through late October, reflecting peak demand for Mediterranean and Alpine vacations. Some of these routes may become recurring seasonal fixtures if performance meets expectations. The Asian long haul services, by contrast, are designed as year round operations, with Hanoi beginning in October 2026, Seoul starting in March 2027, and Manila expected to follow on a similar three times weekly pattern once schedules are finalized.
The Dreamliner plays a central role in making these new Asian links viable. El Al’s Boeing 787 fleet combines long range capability with fuel efficiency, enabling the airline to operate nonstop flights to Southeast and Northeast Asia while keeping operating costs competitive. The three class configuration allows El Al to segment demand carefully, selling higher yielding business and premium economy seats to corporate clients and government travelers, while still filling economy cabins with price sensitive holidaymakers and visiting friends and relatives traffic.
On the European side, Sun D’Or’s operations will draw on narrowbody aircraft configured for high density leisure traffic, with a product tailored to short and medium haul flights. While the onboard offering is simpler than El Al’s flagship services, the value proposition lies in direct access to in demand holiday destinations at competitive prices. The group’s strategy relies on the complementary nature of the two brands: El Al delivering premium long haul connectivity, and Sun D’Or targeting flexible, seasonal markets where capacity can be rapidly adjusted based on performance.
Behind the scenes, the airline is also intensifying its use of partnerships and codeshare agreements to extend the reach of these new routes. Passengers traveling beyond Hanoi, Seoul or Manila will be able to connect onward across Asia with local and regional partners, while European leisure travelers may use hubs like Basel or Copenhagen as jumping off points for multi city itineraries. This network overlay is designed to maximize the impact of each new city pair without burdening El Al with the complexity of operating every possible onward connection itself.
Strengthening Trade, Tourism and Cultural Ties
Beyond the statistics of frequencies and fares, the expansion carries diplomatic and economic significance. Direct air links are often a catalyst for deeper relations, and El Al’s new routes are being framed as part of a broader effort to strengthen Israel’s ties with key partners in Asia and Europe. In its public statements, the airline has emphasized that the new services will provide an optimal solution for business travelers and help reinforce economic links with rapidly growing markets such as Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines.
The tourism impact is expected to be considerable in both directions. For Israelis, the additions put an even wider range of experiences within one or two flights, from the rice terraces and street food of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, to Seoul’s futuristic skyline and traditional palaces, to the islands and coral reefs of the Philippines. The Croatian coastline, the beaches of Sardinia, the baroque streets of Catania and the canals of Copenhagen further expand the menu of summer possibilities. For inbound visitors, the appeal lies in more flexible access to Israel’s historical, religious and cultural sites, along with easier opportunities for combined itineraries taking in neighboring countries.
Local tourism boards in cities such as Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Basel are likely to welcome the new capacity, which can diversify source markets and reduce dependence on nearby European countries. Meanwhile, the return to Copenhagen is symbolically important, reconnecting Israel with a Nordic region that has been largely absent from El Al’s route map for decades. As global travel patterns evolve, the presence of direct flights often shapes where travelers choose to go, and the reappearance of Israel on destination lists in Scandinavia and Central Europe could have a lasting effect on visitor numbers.
Competitive Landscape and Regional Context
El Al’s move unfolds against a competitive backdrop in which regional and global carriers are racing to capture pent up demand for travel. Other airlines in the Middle East and Europe have already announced new routes into Asia and seasonal services into Mediterranean leisure hotspots. Israeli carriers have faced particular operational and security challenges over the past few years, and El Al’s decision to press ahead with nine fresh destinations signals a belief that it can hold its own against foreign rivals that offer extensive connecting networks through their own hubs.
On the Asia side, the new flights to Hanoi, Seoul and Manila will go head to head with itineraries routed through hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai, Doha and various European capitals. El Al is banking on the appeal of a nonstop service, especially for time pressed business travelers or families reluctant to navigate multiple transfers. In the leisure driven European markets, Sun D’Or will compete with low cost and charter carriers that already serve coastal cities and island resorts favored by Israelis. Here, brand loyalty, schedule timing and the convenience of flying with a familiar national carrier may help sway passengers who might otherwise choose a foreign airline.
The expansion also aligns with broader trends in Israel’s aviation sector. Capacity from the country is set to grow sharply through 2026 and 2027 as airlines restore pre war schedules, introduce new aircraft and respond to record demand for outbound tourism. El Al’s decision to roll out new routes while simultaneously increasing frequencies to North America and other core destinations demonstrates confidence that the market can absorb both added seats and new city pairs. It is a bid to shape, rather than simply follow, the post crisis recovery in regional travel flows.
What Travelers Can Expect Next
For travelers, the practical implications of El Al’s bold step forward will become clear over the next two years as reservations systems open and flights take to the skies. Tickets for many of the European leisure routes and for Hanoi are already in the market, with pricing designed to stimulate early demand. Sales windows for Seoul will open in 2026, followed by detailed announcements on Manila. Holidaymakers planning summer 2026 and 2027 trips will find more options ex Tel Aviv than at any point in the airline’s history, with a mix of beach, culture, nature and city break destinations now only a few hours or a single overnight flight away.
From a customer experience standpoint, travelers can expect a blend of continuity and change. El Al’s core onboard product, including its premium cabins on the Dreamliner fleet, remains central to its identity and will be a key selling point on the new Asian routes. Sun D’Or, in turn, will focus on straightforward, seasonal operations emphasizing convenience and competitive pricing. As the airline group refines schedules based on demand patterns, some of the new destinations could see increased frequencies or longer operating seasons in future years.
Ultimately, El Al’s expanded network to Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and beyond represents more than a collection of new lines on a route map. It is a statement of intent from Israel’s flag carrier that it is ready to reengage with the world on a larger scale, connecting its home market with an increasingly diverse set of global cities. For travelers, tourism industries and businesses across these countries, the launch of nine new direct routes promises fresh opportunities, closer ties and a wider horizon of journeys in the years ahead.