Direct Flights to Canada Resume With Significant Price Hike

Direct flights between Tel Aviv and Toronto are set to resume on November 30th, operated by Air Canada, after a suspension following the war with Iran. The airline will offer four weekly flights on this route. This marks an earlier return than initially planned, which was for January 17, 2027. Since the suspension, Israel has lacked a direct air link to Canada, forcing travelers to rely on flights with layovers.

Despite the return of United and Delta to routes to the US in September, Air Canada remains the sole operator of direct flights to Toronto. A price analysis by lastminute.co.il revealed that a round-trip economy class ticket in December will average $1,155, a 30% increase compared to December of the previous year. Flights with layovers are approximately 16% cheaper, with British Airways and Lufthansa offering tickets for $968 and $990 respectively. Some connecting flights, such as those on Delta and Austrian Airlines, are more expensive than the direct Air Canada option.

In business class, the price difference is more substantial. Air Canada flights are averaging $6,700, while British Airways and Lufthansa offer tickets for $3,777 and $3,870, respectively. This presents a potential saving of around $2,900 by choosing a connecting flight, though some routes may involve two layovers.

Assaf Greenberg, VP of Marketing at lastminute.co.il, commented that while the resumption of direct flights improves accessibility to Canada, the route's reliance on a single airline limits competition. He noted that the savings from connecting flights differ significantly between economy and business class, suggesting that the cost difference in economy may not be enough for some passengers to justify the longer travel time, whereas the business class savings offer a compelling economic reason to consider layovers. Greenberg concluded that the return of direct flights is good news for travelers but does not yet signify a drop in prices.