Arkia Delays Direct Flights to Tokyo Amid Approval Hurdles

Arkia Airlines is facing significant delays in launching its planned direct flights from Israel to Tokyo due to a failure to secure necessary approvals from Japanese authorities. The airline has not yet received permission to operate the route using a wet lease aircraft, a common practice for Arkia on other international routes. This has forced passengers with bookings for late October and early November 2026 to choose between alternative arrangements or cancel their flights.

Passengers affected by the delay are being offered three options: rerouting their journey through an intermediate destination like Bangkok or Hanoi, with Arkia arranging the connecting flight; changing their booking to another Arkia destination and receiving a 10% discount on the new ticket; or canceling their flight for a full refund. Arkia is also working to obtain approvals to operate the route with its own aircraft, hoping for a resolution in the coming weeks.

Currently, El Al is the only Israeli airline operating flights to Tokyo. Israir has also begun the process of seeking approvals for this route. The launch of Arkia's direct service to Japan remains uncertain until the required permits are granted by Japanese authorities.