Not long ago, flights from Abu Dhabi or Dubai to Tel Aviv were unheard of, and Israeli passport holders were persona non grata.
Boy have times changed.
No airlines based in the Western Hemisphere are flying to Tel Aviv these days, ceding the route to Israeli flag carrier El Al.
Despite the European Union Aviation Safety Agency no longer advising European airlines to stay away from Israel, European airlines have failed to return. That means you can’t fly to Israel on flag carriers like Air France from Paris, Austrian from Vienna, BA or Virgin from London, Brussels Airlines from Brussels, Iberia from Madrid, Icelandair from Reykjavik, ITA from Rome, KLM from Amsterdam, LOT from Warsaw, Lufthansa from Frankfurt or Munich, Swiss from Zurich, TAP from Lisbon, or Turkish from Istanbul.
However, airlines in other regions have picked up some of the slack.
- There will be about 40 round-trip flights between Athens and Tel Aviv next week and about 38 the following week on Arkia, Bluebird, El Al, and Israir. Those are all Israeli flagged or owned airlines.
- There will be about 40 round-trip flights between Larnaca and Tel Aviv next week and about 43 the following week on Arkia, Cyprus, El Al, Israir, and Tus. Aside from Cyprus, those are also all Israeli flagged or owned airlines.
The big winner?
There will be about 78 round-trip flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv next week and about 84 the following week on Arkia, El Al, Flydubai, and Israir.
Emirati-owned low-cost carrier Flydubai has increased to an incredible 8 round-trip flights per day between Dubai and Tel Aviv. That’s in addition to service from Arkia, El Al, and Israir between Dubai and Tel Aviv.
This is practically hourly shuttle service from 4am to noon!
With that kind of demand, I am curious why Emirates can’t make the route work for them? Dubai’s flag carrier has suspended service on the route until at least 10/1/25.
But you can redeem miles for travel on Emirates to Athens or Dubai and book a separate ticket to Tel Aviv.
Dubai isn’t alone.
Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund owned Etihad has increased from 7 weekly flights to 10 weekly round-trip flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. That will further increase to 12 weekly flights starting on 12/1, 13 weekly flights starting on 12/15, and 14 weekly flights starting on 12/22.
Star Alliance carrier Ethiopian will operate 10 weekly round-trip flights between Addis Ababa and Tel Aviv next week. That will increase to 17 weekly flights starting in December.
How are you flying to Israel these days?
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13 Comments On "While European Airlines Stay Away From Israel, Abraham Accords Airlines Keep Adding Flights"
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Note that according to the Israeli National Security Council, the Emirates is not considered safe. It is not recommended to leave the airport as its graded a level 3 alert. Therefore, it’s a bit surprising to see all those flights.
I can guarantee you that as a visible Jew, you’ll feel much safer in the UAE than in Europe these days.
WHATS WITH AEEGAN AIRLINES
Like other EU airlines, they have been staying away from TLV.
Reminds of the story with the shlepper and the well-dressed fundraiser standing next to each other. A guy tells the shlepper to get groomed up maybe he can make as much as the other. His response, smirking at the well-dressed fundtaiser, “Goldstein, that guy wants to teach us how to do business.”
I’m sure Emirates is making a strategic decision here, with the big winner having an even busier hub with more destinations. They get the points for being under the radar to an extent with a great business goal in mind.
Just booked tickets for January have to fly from Chicago to Boston on a separate ticket then elal from Boston to Israel, sadly that is the cheapest route.
HI sky is flying and they are based in the western hemisphere
Source?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HiSky
But still not nearly enough evening departures out of TLV to Dubai (to connect on United)
Great place for a day trip.
Do these airlines have safe flying records? Are their safety protocols on par with AirFrance, Virgin, etc.?
Yes
What I’m trying to figure out is how to get to Isreal with aa miles and an aa voucher?