From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Arkia to launch first-ever direct Israel-Vietnam flights, compete with El Al on route to Bangkok
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSharon Wrobel is a tech reporter for The Times of Israel
Israeli airline Arkia plans to launch direct flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to Vietnam’s capital Hanoi early next year and resume the operation of its route to Thailand’s capital Bangkok in November.
Starting on January 5, Arkia will operate one weekly flight from Ben Gurion Airport to Hanoi and increase the frequency to two weekly flights from March 2026. The launch marks the first direct flight service between Tel Aviv and Hanoi.
One-way tickets from Tel Aviv to Hanoi with Arkia start at $699, including baggage and two meals.
Starting on November 25, Arkia plans to operate two weekly flights from Tel Aviv to Bangkok in direct competition with Israel’s flagship carrier El Al, which until now has been the exclusive local carrier on the direct route. Prices for one-way tickets to Bangkok will sell for $499, including baggage and two meals.
In 2024, more than 400,000 Israelis visited Thailand – a record number that makes it the most popular destination for long-haul flights after the US, according to Thai Ambassador to Israel Boonyarit Vichienpuntu.
The announcement comes after Arkia launched direct round-trip flights from Tel Aviv to New York in early February, marking the airline’s first time flying to the US.
The Times of Israel Community.