Arkia Launches First-Ever Direct Flights From Israel to Philippines

For the first time, Israeli airline Arkia will launch direct flights from Israel to the Philippines, with service to the capital city of Manila set to begin in January. The weekly Sunday flights will start at $750 for a one-way economy ticket and $1,800 for business class.

This move comes as competition heats up for popular destinations in East Asia. While Thailand has reportedly grown frustrated with Israeli tourist behavior, reducing visa periods from 60 to 30 days, the Philippines is actively welcoming Israeli visitors. This new route follows Arkia's recent launch of flights to Tokyo.

The airline's expansion occurs amidst ongoing negotiations for the sale of Arkia by its owners, the Nakash family, to an ultra-Orthodox businessman reportedly seeking to cease the airline's operations on the Sabbath. This potential change has sparked protests from employees and concerns about the future of air travel services on Saturdays, with Israir being the only other airline expected to operate on the Sabbath.

Arkia's new route to Manila is part of a broader strengthening of international flight operations from Ben Gurion Airport. Other airlines are also expanding, with Wizz Air adding 46 weekly flights and Israir launching a new direct route to New York this month.