El Al Cancels Planned Direct Flights to Hanoi Due to Security Approval Denial

El Al has announced the cancellation of its planned direct flight route to Hanoi, Vietnam, which was scheduled to launch in October, approximately two months from now. The airline cited the failure to obtain the necessary security approvals for operating flights with Israeli aircraft and crews as the primary reason for the cancellation. Although El Al had previously received preliminary approvals from relevant authorities, including security agencies, and invested resources in operational and commercial preparations, the final security clearance was denied.

The decision follows guidance from Israeli security officials responsible for aviation security, who stated that the planned operation could not be authorized under the intended framework. El Al had initially announced the new route in February and began ticket sales well in advance. Passengers who already purchased tickets will be offered alternatives such as flights to Hanoi via Bangkok with a connecting foreign carrier at no extra cost, transfers to other El Al destinations on the same dates, full refunds, or travel vouchers for future use.

The airline will implement the cancellation gradually based on scheduled departure dates, with dedicated notifications to affected passengers starting next week. It is noteworthy that despite El Al's cancellation, Arkia Airlines currently operates flights to Hanoi.