Arkia Launches First Direct Flights Connecting Israel and the Philippines

Israeli airline Arkia is set to launch the first-ever direct flights between Israel and the Philippines, beginning in January. The airline will offer one weekly flight connecting Ben Gurion Airport with Manila, the Philippine capital, departing every Sunday. One-way tickets will start at $750 in economy class and $1,800 in business class.

This new route signifies Arkia's ongoing expansion into Asia, following its previous launch of direct flights to Tokyo. The introduction of the Israel-Philippines route comes amid growing interest from Israeli travelers in East Asian destinations. It also occurs against a backdrop of tensions in Thailand concerning the behavior of some Israeli tourists, with Thai authorities recently reducing the visa-free stay for Israelis from 60 to 30 days, according to i24NEWS.

The announcement arrives during a turbulent period for Arkia. The airline recently faced passenger protests regarding service quality. Furthermore, its owners, the Nakash family, are in negotiations to sell the company to an ultra-Orthodox businessman who intends to cease Shabbat flights, a proposal met with opposition from employees.

Internationally, Ben Gurion Airport is experiencing increased activity. Wizz Air is reinstating several routes and adding 46 weekly flights, while Israir is scheduled to inaugurate its own direct service to New York this month.