Flight Prices Plummet After Israeli Holidays, Offering Significant Savings

Travelers looking to book international flights from Israel can expect substantial price drops after the High Holiday period, with some destinations seeing reductions of over 70%. A comparison by lastminute.co.il revealed that average round-trip fares to 15 popular destinations decreased significantly between the holiday period (September to early October) and the subsequent month (October 5-31).

The most dramatic price drop was observed for flights to Rome, which fell by 74% from an average of $620 to $160. Budapest flights saw a 71% decrease, dropping from $565 to $164, while Athens experienced a 64% reduction from $385 to $137. Catania in Sicily and Tbilisi also saw prices fall by 62% and 60% respectively. Even long-haul destinations like Tokyo, Seoul, and Hanoi are offering savings of hundreds of dollars post-holidays.

The increase in flight availability and frequency is a key factor behind the price drops. Following a peak travel season and despite disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport, airlines are adding capacity. For instance, Wizz Air has increased its weekly flights to Budapest, Rome, and Athens, and introduced a new route to Catania. SAS is set to resume flights to Copenhagen from Tel Aviv in late October, and Bluebird has launched services to Bologna.

While demand for New York flights remains high with the return of Delta and United, and the addition of Israir, prices are expected to decrease by around 29% after the holidays. Further savings are anticipated by January, with prices potentially falling below $1,000, according to Gulliver Tours.

Search trends also reflect shifting traveler preferences. Sicily has seen a surge of 131% in flight searches, followed by Baku and Hanoi. Conversely, searches for Lisbon and London have declined significantly. Dubai and Baku are currently leading booking data for October, replacing Bangkok as a top destination compared to last year.