AVIATION
May 2025
HAINAN AIRLINES is Returning with a Direct Route from Tel Aviv Will be the only company operating direct flights from Israel to the Chinese capital
T he Chinese airline, Hainan Airlines, announced that it is returning the direct route from Tel Aviv to Beijing, for the first time since it canceled it at the beginning of the war, and will be the only company operating
The Chinese airline will operate the flights to Beijing on new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and will continue to operate the direct route from Tel Aviv to Shenzhen, which departs 3 times a week and was not interrupted throughout the war.
direct flights from Israel to the Chinese capital, in the absence of El Al flights to the destination. The flights from Tel Aviv to Beijing will depart from Ben Gurion Airport twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays at 3:00 PM, and
will land in Beijing the following day on Tuesdays and Fridays at 4:45 AM. The flights from Beijing to Tel Aviv will depart on Mondays and Thursdays at 2:00 AM and land on the same days in Tel Aviv at 7:40 AM (local time).
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO ISRAEL SEE SIGNIFICANT RESUMPTION IN APRIL 2025
T he skies over Israel are becoming increasingly busy this April as a significant number of international airlines have resumed or increased their flight operations to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). This marks a considerable shift towards normalizing air travel to the country after a period of reduced activity. Major carriers from Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East are now operating flights to Tel Aviv. Airlines such as El Al, Arkia, Israir, Ethiopian Airlines, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, United Airlines, ITA Airways, Wizz Air, Air France, British Airways, and Air India are reported to be fully operational. Several airlines that had previously suspended services have already returned in
recent weeks. Delta Air Lines, for instance, resumed its New York-Tel Aviv route on April 1st, following United Airlines' return on March 15th. These resumptions, even if initially with limited capacity, are seen as a positive indicator for the travel industry. Looking ahead, more airlines are slated to rejoin the routes to Israel in the coming months. Air Canada, KLM, and EasyJet have announced plans to resume flights starting June 1, 2025. Other airlines like Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Airlines are also operating, having announced their return earlier in the year. Despite the positive trend, some airlines still have flight
suspensions in place, with anticipated return dates later in the year. American Airlines flights are reportedly canceled until September 2025, and Cathay Pacific has postponed its return until October 2025. Emirates and Korean Air also show suspended flights until further notice according to some reports. The increase in international flights is expected to significantly boost passenger traffic at Ben Gurion Airport. The Israel Airports Authority projected approximately 1.8 million travelers passing through the airport in April, a substantial increase compared to the same
period last year. While the expanded capacity is welcomed, reports indicate that airfares on some routes, particularly to North America, remain relatively high, although the increased competition is anticipated to potentially influence pricing in the future. Israir is also reportedly planning to launch direct flights to New York City next year, which could further impact the market. The gradual return of international airlines signals a growing confidence in the stability of the region and is a vital step for the recovery of Israel's tourism and business sectors.
26 • www.itn.co.il
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