El Al Cancels New Direct Flight to Hanoi Due to Israeli Security Restrictions

Israeli airline El Al announced the cancellation of its planned direct flight route to Hanoi, Vietnam, which was scheduled to launch in October. The decision came after Israeli security authorities, operating under Shin Bet guidelines and responsible for aviation security, informed the airline that it could not grant the necessary approvals for flights operated with Israeli aircraft and crews.

El Al had already completed extensive operational and commercial preparations and invested significant resources in launching the new route. Initially, the airline had received preliminary approvals from relevant authorities, including security agencies, before announcing the new destination. However, the security authorities later reversed their position, stating that the flights could not be authorized as planned.

Due to the lack of required security clearances, El Al stated it had no choice but to cancel the Hanoi route. The airline apologized to passengers who had already purchased tickets and offered flexible compensation options. These include rerouting flights to Hanoi via Bangkok with a partner airline at no extra cost, changing to other El Al destinations on the same dates without additional fees, full refunds, or credit vouchers for future use.

El Al also noted that the cancellation of flights will be implemented gradually according to scheduled departure dates, with affected customers receiving dedicated notifications starting next week.