12 August 2023
Israeli Airline El Al has announced that it will start flying to Manila from Tel Aviv thrice a week beginning November of 2025 using Boeing 787-900.
Chief Executive Officer Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia said El Al was definitely looking at the Philippines as its next destination in Asia Pacific following the opening of Japan last March 2023 and Melbourne launch in April of 2024.
Ganancia said Manila has been on their radar for quite sometime now and is part of of El Al's multi-year strategic plan as it grows its route network in Asia Pacific region, following the latest flight offering from Ben Gurion Airport to Tokyo Narita airport beginning March 1, 2023.
"It is definitely in the works now and we have ordered the plane last June for delivery by November of 2025, so they are coming to Manila soon," says Ms. Ganancia.
El Al will receive two additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2025 and 2026 following a lease agreement signed with AerCap at the Paris Air Show last June 2023.
El Als strategic route plan calls for introduction of flights to Australia, the Philippines, Singapore and Maldives between 2025 and 2028, and plans to expand its Boeing 787 fleet, currently comprising 4-800s and 12-900s, to 22 by 2028.
El Al said Manila is the most promising destination for the airline but due to airways restrictions in Saudi Arabia and Oman they were put on hold.
Ganancia said the airline had already received approval to fly over Saudi Arabia in July 2022 but also needed to fly over Oman to skirt Iran and save time for journeys to Asia Pacific. Overflights in Oman airspace was secured in February this year.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eliyahu Cohen who visited Manila last June has worked on the regulatory approval of El Al to fly to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was given early morning arrival and departure time. It was also given Terminal 1 for its gate.
Cohen said he arranged direct air links between Tel Aviv and Manila for El Al, after its code share plan with flag carrier Philippine Airlines which intended to fly the route then fizzled in 2021 due to the latter's financial problems brought by covid19 pandemic, as they were forced to return substantial number of wide-body fleet.
Cohen said Filipinos going to Israel are mostly christian pilgrims who fly via Hong Kong or a city in Middle East. While some connects in Bangkok where El Al also has flights.
"This time they will be flying direct soon," says Cohen.
Filipino tourists to Israel has expanded a whopping growth of 40 percent with 19,300 Filipino tourists to Israel from January to June 2023 versus 2019, the statistics release by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. This data does not include Overseas Filipino workers who also works in Israel.
"2023 has been outstanding and by far the best year for Israel tourism in the Philippines. It has been an important market for us, and we see huge potential in the Philippine market. The Israel Ministry of Tourism in the Philippines will continue to make progress on the issues of awareness and connectivity."Sammy Yahia, director of Israel Ministry of Tourism Philippines, said.
Filipinos can enjoy visa-free travel to Israel for up to 59 days, while Israelis can enjoy visa-free travel to the Philippines for up to 59 days.
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