El Al Forced to Cancel New Direct Flight to Vietnam Due to Security Concerns

El Al has been compelled to cancel its planned direct flight route to Hanoi, Vietnam, which was scheduled to launch in October. Israeli security authorities, operating under the guidelines of the Shin Bet and responsible for aviation security, informed El Al that they could not grant the necessary approvals for operating the route with Israeli aircraft and crews. This decision follows El Al's February announcement of expanding its direct flight destinations for the first time since the outbreak of the war. In response, El Al apologized to passengers who had already purchased tickets and offered a flexible change policy due to the cancellation caused by the lack of security clearance.