El Al Cancels Planned Direct Flights to Hanoi Due to Israeli Security Restrictions

El Al announced on Thursday that it will not be able to launch its planned direct flight route to Hanoi, Vietnam, scheduled to begin in October. The cancellation is due to the lack of necessary approvals from Israeli security authorities, specifically those under the Shin Bet's directives. According to the airline, the decision came after it had already completed operational preparations and invested significant resources, only to be informed later by security officials that flights operated by Israeli aircraft and crews could not be authorized.

El Al expressed implicit criticism of the security bodies for the timing of the decision. The airline is offering affected passengers flexible options, including rerouting to Hanoi via Bangkok with a foreign carrier, changing to other El Al destinations on the same dates at no extra cost, or receiving a full refund or credit voucher for future use. Earlier this year, in February, El Al had announced nine new global destinations as part of its growth strategy, with Hanoi among them. The company had been focusing on expanding flights to core markets in Asia, North America, and Europe after three years of limited growth.

The cancellation marks a setback in El Al's expansion plans amid ongoing challenges in the aviation sector. Meanwhile, Israel Airports Authority has warned of expected delays at Ben Gurion Airport due to congestion in Greece, and the Israeli tourism sector remains cautious as many Israelis continue to travel abroad. El Al's halted Hanoi route reflects broader complexities in balancing commercial ambitions with national security considerations.