El Al Expands to 40 Destinations as Global Airlines Rush Back to Tel Aviv

El Al has announced it will resume flights to nine international destinations starting next week, a move that will expand its network to nearly 40 routes worldwide, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The newly reinstated destinations include Boston, London Luton, Tivat (Montenegro), Krakow (Poland), Marseille (France), Sofia (Bulgaria), Paphos (Cyprus), and the Greek cities of Rhodes and Thessaloniki.

By restoring both transatlantic and European routes, El Al is re-establishing critical international links that were disrupted during the recent conflict. The airline has also implemented a structured approach to its restart. Passengers booked on routes that have not yet resumed are being proactively contacted to confirm travel plans.

El Al’s Rapid Turnaround

The current expansion comes just weeks after Israel’s airspace faced extreme limitations. At one point, El Al was operating at only 5% of its normal capacity due to government restrictions tied to the Iran conflict.

Ben Gurion Airport itself had reopened in what officials described as an “extremely limited format,” with flights gradually increasing based on security conditions.

In that context, the return to nearly 40 destinations is not just a routine schedule update—it represents a sharp recovery in both operational capability and market confidence.

Recent reports also indicate that El Al had already begun scaling up operations to dozens of global destinations, signaling a steady transition back toward full capacity.

International Airlines Begin Phased Return to Tel Aviv

El Al is not alone in restoring services. A growing list of international carriers is resuming flights to Tel Aviv throughout the week, underscoring renewed confidence in Israel’s aviation environment.

According to reporting by The Jerusalem Post, several airlines are returning in a staggered schedule:

• ALK Airlines resumed operations with daily flights on behalf of Bluebird Airways.
• TUS Airways is set to restart services on Tuesday.
• Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines will resume flights on Wednesday.
• Hainan Airlines will return on Thursday.
• Red Wings Airlines, Georgian Airways, and FlyOne (Moldova) are scheduled to resume on Friday.

In addition, arrangements are underway for Flydubai to restart operations, suggesting that the recovery is still gaining momentum.

This staggered return reflects a cautious but clear trend: global carriers are steadily re-entering the Israeli market after a period of widespread suspensions.

Government Push and Industry Confidence Drive Recovery

The restoration of flight operations is being actively supported at the government level. Israel’s Transportation Ministry is working to increase both flight frequency and the number of available destinations, aiming to fully restore international connectivity.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev has emphasized that the return of foreign airlines will expand travel options for the public, while ongoing efforts are focused on strengthening overall flight supply, and was quoted in he Jerusalem Post to have reported:

We are working very hard to expand air activity and return the aviation industry to full operations…..The return of foreign airlines will allow the Israeli public to fly to a wider variety of destinations, and we will continue to work to increase the supply of flights and the variety of destinations

At the same time, aviation leaders see the return of international carriers as a strong signal of confidence. Israel Airports Authority Chairman Yiftach Ron Tal noted that foreign airlines resuming operations reflects trust in the country’s ability to maintain safe and reliable aviation services.

Is the Return to Normalcy Sustainable?

The pace of recovery remains deliberate. Airlines are restoring routes in phases, monitoring demand, and adjusting schedules as conditions evolve.

However, whether the return is sustainable. Only a few days after its announcement, a ceasefire between Iran and US coupled with Israel has been broken. So, we don’t know much the conflict in the Middle East is going to escalate.

While this moment might highlights how quickly the industry can rebound when conditions stabilize, it still is difficult to know whether the coordination between governments, airlines, and airports in the middle east is going to return aviation there in a state of normalcy.