El Al Cancels Planned Direct Flight to Hanoi Following Shin Bet Security Restrictions

Two months after launching ticket sales for its new direct route to Hanoi, Vietnam, El Al has announced the cancellation of the flight scheduled to begin in October 2026. The decision came after Israeli security authorities, including the Shin Bet, informed the airline that it could not grant the necessary approvals to operate the route with Israeli aircraft and crews. El Al stated that it had initially received preliminary approvals from relevant bodies, including security agencies, before announcing the route. However, after completing operational and commercial preparations and investing significant resources, the airline was informed that the flights could not be authorized. Currently, no airline operates a direct flight from Israel to Hanoi, requiring travelers to connect through foreign carriers. El Al is offering affected customers a connecting flight option via Bangkok with a foreign airline at no additional cost to those who had already purchased tickets for the canceled route.