Direct Flights to Surprise Destinations Like South Korea and Iceland Launching by 2027
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Airlines are launching new direct flight routes from Israel by 2027 to destinations including Seoul, South Korea; Manila, Philippines; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. These routes aim to reduce layovers and increase accessibility to Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Low-cost carrier Air Haifa is also expanding its operations with increased frequencies to Cyprus and new routes to Greece and Ramon Airport.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Direct flights to Seoul, South Korea, will begin March 27, 2027, with three weekly services.
- Arkia launches the first direct Israeli flights to Reykjavik, Iceland, starting June 2027.
- El Al will operate the longest route, a direct flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina, from November 29, 2026.
- New direct routes to Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Split, Croatia, are planned for 2027.
- Air Haifa expands services with increased flights to Cyprus and new routes to Greece and Ramon Airport.
Some routes will open in late 2026, with others scheduled for 2027, significantly broadening vacation options.
Asia will become more accessible with direct flights to Seoul, South Korea, operated by El Al starting March 27, 2027, with three weekly flights. Arkia will launch a direct route to Manila, Philippines, on January 3, 2027, with one weekly flight, positioning it as an entry point to the archipelago. El Al also intends to fly to Manila, but a launch date is pending.
European travel will see new options including Bologna, Italy, with Israir in Spring-Summer 2027, targeting food lovers and serving as a base for exploring northern and central Italy. Arkia will begin direct flights to Tallinn, Estonia, in March 2027, offering a historic city and technological advancement at lower costs than Western Europe. Israir and Arkia will both operate flights to Preveza, Greece, starting Spring-Summer 2027, providing access to Lefkada island and the Epirus region. Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Split, Croatia, will become accessible via direct flights from Israir and Arkia in 2027, highlighting the Balkans as a trending destination. Notably, Arkia will introduce the first direct Israeli flights to Reykjavik, Iceland, in June 2027, featuring volcanic landscapes and the Northern Lights.
Transatlantic routes are being revived and expanded. United Airlines will resume three weekly direct flights to San Francisco, USA, starting March 28, 2027, competing with El Al's return to the route. El Al will also launch its longest route, a direct flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina, beginning November 29, 2026, taking approximately 16.5 hours inbound.
Regional low-cost carrier Air Haifa plans to grow its operations by up to 50% in 2027. It will significantly increase flight frequencies to Larnaca and Paphos, Cyprus, in Summer 2027, allowing northern residents to travel without passing through TLV. Air Haifa also launched a new route to Thessaloniki, Greece, on October 25, 2026, with two weekly flights planned. Additionally, the airline will open a TLV-Ramon route with up to 10 daily flights, in parallel with its Haifa-Ramon service.
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