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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37 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.
I guess that false feeling can be put to rest now. 🙁
Agree
WHATS WITH AEEGAN AIRLINES
Like other EU airlines, they have been staying away from TLV.
Wizzair still flies to TLV. It’s EU-based.
They are not currently flying to 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
HiSky operating both inbound and outbound within the last few days
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/HYS237/history/20241117/1810Z/LROP/LLBG
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/HYS238/history/20241117/2140Z/LLBG/LROP
I am aware. What does that have to do with being based in the Western Hemisphere?
But still not nearly enough evening departures out of TLV to Dubai (to connect on United)
Do these airlines have safe flying records? Are their safety protocols on par with AirFrance, Virgin, etc.?
Yes
I believe so, but google their records.
What I’m trying to figure out is how to get to Isreal with aa miles and an aa voucher?
aa to a place elal flies
Use them to fly to Athens and then it’s pretty easy to find a flight to TLV from there… I did it twice in the past 3 months I paid phx-ath 27k next time phl-ath 22k
Who booked it for you?
from nyc. athens is generally the fastest most economical
elal are capped till end of dec. best option is emirates [lots of dates 17.5k and $57 taxes] arrives 4pm, if you can get the elal 830pm your a winner !
B”H for President HaMelech HaGadol Donald J. Trump
I used Ethiopian twice their pilots are inexperienced and their license deserves to be revoked
Why do you say that?
Their take off and landing was RIDICULOUS and TERRIBLE
“No airlines based in the Western Hemisphere are flying to Tel Aviv these days, ceding the route to Israeli flag carrier El Al.”
Where is Wizzair based? Hungary in Europe? It flies BUD-TLV
BUD is in the Eastern Hemisphere + Wizz is not currently flying to TLV
Wizz flew to TLV today.
And the headline said European airlines and so it seems like Dan meant European airlines as being part of the western hemisphere
The only countries in the western hemisphere are in north america (technically south america and iceland too but they don’t have flights to israel) it just doesn’t sound as cool to simply say that no north american airline is flying to israel
You might want to change the headline since in fact the UAE is the only country out of the 3 that were part of the Abraham accords (4 if you count sudan) that still flies to israel.
Although i guess misleading headlines get more clicks
You can use Smartwings which is currently flying based in PRG
I flew last week Monday Emirates First to Athens and then Elal Business to TLV.
The experience on both flights were amazing, The Emirates one was of course next level!
7 Hour stop was pretty hard.
CY flyes 4 times a week LCA TLV.
when you book, pay attention if your booking includes a suitcase!
And what you say now it’s safe to fly to UAE after the murdered chabad shliach we will fill also safe in Dubai? ( Following to the discussion on November 19)I can guarantee you that as a visible Jew, you’ll feel much safer in the UAE than in Europe these days. You saying on the post, I wase there 2 weeks ago and you right that’s I feel safe and we hope that’s will continue like this and it was just one time and from now it will be just good things
We flew to Israel for Sukkot on Czech and Romanian carriers.