Arkia Cancels Direct Flights to Ho Chi Minh City Due to Low Demand

Arkia Airlines has canceled its planned direct route from Ben Gurion Airport to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before its scheduled October 2026 launch. The decision, reported by Israel Hayom, stems from insufficient passenger demand to justify operating the route. Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city, located in the south.

The direct flight was intended to offer Israelis a travel time of approximately 13.5 hours, with round-trip economy tickets priced around $1,500. However, the anticipated demand did not materialize, leading Arkia to revise its plans.

Instead of the Ho Chi Minh City route, Arkia will increase its service to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, operating two flights per week in October and November, up from the previously planned one weekly flight.

Arkia is also expanding its presence in East Asia with a new direct route to Manila, Philippines, set to begin on January 3, 2027. This route will operate weekly on Sundays using Airbus A330 aircraft, featuring a business class section. The return flight from Manila to Tel Aviv will depart on Mondays. Flight time to Manila is estimated at about 11.5 hours outbound and 12.5 hours inbound, with economy tickets starting at $749 one-way. This expansion occurs as the aviation industry continues its recovery, with foreign airlines returning and Israeli carriers increasing operations.