Arkia Launches Direct Flights to Philippines, Challenging El Al

Arkia Airlines is set to launch a new direct route from Israel to Manila, Philippines, marking a significant expansion of its long-haul operations in East Asia. This move follows the airline's recent establishment of routes to Thailand and Vietnam, and it positions Arkia to compete directly with El Al, which also announced plans for a direct Tel Aviv-Manila service.

The new Arkia route is scheduled to commence in January 2027, with flights operating weekly on Sundays. The journey is expected to take approximately 12 hours, offering a substantial reduction in travel time compared to current options which typically involve layovers. The flights will utilize Airbus A330 aircraft and will be operated by foreign crews, likely from Portugal or Bulgaria.

Round-trip fares for the tourist class are expected to start at $1,500, with business class tickets priced around $3,000. The service will land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), providing connections to various islands and destinations within the Philippines. The Philippine Ambassador to Israel, H.E. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, highlighted the route's significance in building a bridge between the two nations and praised Arkia's initiative as a bold step.

Arkia's CEO, Oz Berlowitz, acknowledged the ambassador's assistance in securing a prime slot at Manila's main airport. This expansion aligns with Arkia's strategic shift from a focus on short-haul leisure destinations to becoming a player in the long-haul market, with the Philippines being another key component of its Asian network, alongside planned services to Tokyo.

El Al's planned direct service to Manila, announced in February, will operate three times a week using Dreamliner aircraft. Notably, El Al had previously decided against flying to Hanoi, Vietnam, due to security clearance issues, whereas Arkia has been operating flights to Vietnam for nearly a year using foreign-registered aircraft and crews, bypassing the need for Israeli security approvals at the destination airport.