Three Airlines Expand Flight Services to Israel Amid Limited Foreign Carrier Returns

As some foreign airlines have yet to fully resume flights to Israel, three international carriers are increasing their operations at Ben Gurion Airport. This expansion will add dozens of weekly flights, increase seat availability, and offer Israeli travelers more options for connecting flights worldwide. Leading this growth are two airlines from the United Arab Emirates, Flydubai and Etihad Airways, along with Ethiopian Airlines, which is also boosting its flight frequency between Israel and Ethiopia.

Flydubai plans to operate up to 10 daily flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai, totaling about 70 weekly flights, providing passengers with greater scheduling flexibility. Etihad Airways will increase its service to up to six daily flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, amounting to approximately 42 weekly flights. Ethiopian Airlines will raise its flights on the Tel Aviv-Addis Ababa route to 26 weekly flights, with three to four daily flights expected in August. Some Ethiopian Airlines flights will use Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, allowing for more seats.

Starting August 3, Ethiopian Airlines will add a daily flight from Sunday to Thursday, departing Tel Aviv at 03:15 and arriving in Addis Ababa at 07:30, with the return flight leaving Addis Ababa at 21:50 and landing in Tel Aviv at 02:00 the next day. These routes serve as major hubs for onward travel to Asia, the Far East, Africa, the United States, and other global destinations. Addis Ababa, in particular, is a key African aviation hub, facilitating connections across the continent and beyond.

This increase in flights coincides with the summer travel season when demand is high, while some foreign airlines have not yet fully resumed their Israel routes. For consumers, this means more flight choices, better seat availability, and increased competition for Israeli travelers, especially on routes with limited options.