
Israel is open to international tourism
Visitors from all around the world can now enter Israel, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreign travelers are not required to quarantine, or present evidence of a negative Covid test result. However, health insurance with coverage for Covid treatment is necessary for the duration of the trip.
Most flights to Isreal have been resumed. Transiting via Israeli airports in order to travel on to other destinations is not currently permitted.
Arriving in Israel
- If you are flying to Israel from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport — Ben Gurion Airport
TLV
in Tel Aviv. It is a relatively small airport that handles 16 million passengers a year (around 20% of London's Heathrow International Airport's travel traffic). Baggage collection and passport control are in Terminal 3 - the main terminal which handles most international flights. The airport train station is located on level S.
These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Israel. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result. - Once in Israel, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as El Al Israel Airlines, Arkia, Israir, and Ayit Aviation. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation), and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
- Public transport in Israel (buses, trains, boats, ferries) is even cheaper than domestic airlines, and it’s a great way to experience local life. If you’re looking to explore smaller, more remote destinations, public transport may be your only option. 12go.asia has the most comprehensive database about public transport options in Israel. It is a reliable source of information about routes, schedules, prices, and booking options.
Bus. Train. Boat. Ferry. Local prices. Book domestic transport in Israel on 12go.asia. - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Israel can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirBaltic, Air Europa, Corendon Air, EasyJet, FlyDubai, Pegasus Airlines, RyanAir, SunExpress, TransAvia, Vueling, and Wizz Air. If you have a layover in Israel and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.
Airports of Israel
Airlines flying to Israel | Aegan Airlines, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air Moldova, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, ANA, American Airlines, Azimuth Airlines, Blue Air, Blue Bird Airways, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cathay Pacific, Corendon Air, Croatia Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EasyJet, EgyptAir, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Flexflight, Fly One, FlyDubai, Georgian Airways, Gulf Air, Hisky, Iberia, Indigo, Israir, ITA Airways, JetBlue, Kemya Airways, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Neos, Norwegian Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qantas, Red Wings, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, RyanAir, S7 Airlines, Smartwings, SunExpress, SWISS, Tap Air Portugal, Tarom, Thai Airways, TransAvia France, Turkish Airlines, TUS Airways, Ukraine International Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Aerolíneas Vietnamitas, Virgin Australia, Vueling, Wizz Air |
---|---|
Airlines of Israel | El Al Israel Airlines, Arkia, Israir, Ayit Aviation |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €100 – €250 (from Europe) ✈ $450 – $700 (from USA) |
Flight hacks | 40% — 80% off regular fare |
Main airports in Israel | Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) — Tel Aviv Haifa Airport (HFA) — Haifa Ramon Airport (ETM) — Eilat Herzliya Airport — Herzliya Rosh Pina Airport (RPN) — Rosh Pinna |
Airline promotions | See ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from March to May |
The cheapest time to fly to Israel
The cheapest time to fly to Israel is during the winter – from November to March (excluding dates around Christmas and New Year). During these cooler months, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem take a break from the massive summer tourist crowds. With fewer tourists, the prices for flights, accommodation, attractions, and food dramatically decrease. If you are looking to save money, this is the best time to fly to Israel.
If you prefer warmer temperatures, the shoulder season is also a period with low tourist traffic, offering the opportunity to find discounted flights. The shoulder season happens twice a year: in the spring – March to May – and again in the fall – September to November.
Tight security checks at Ben Gurion Airport
Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv is considered to be one of the safest airports in the world. It is also infamous amongst travelers for being seriously heavy with security. The internet is full of horror stories of intrusive luggage checks, innocent travelers being detained for hours, and forced to miss flights. However, it is important to understand that Israel has had a lot of issues in the past, and there is a history of tension in the region.
The truth is, with thousands of passengers coming in and out of the country every day, the airport employs a whole range of screening techniques (including an advanced luggage screening machine known as HBS) to make sure that they check everyone without causing delays and too much hassle. In practice for the majority of passengers, the airport security experience will be absolutely not that different from any other airport.
As there’s no way to avoid tight airport security checks, make sure you arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure.
Questioning by Israeli airport security
All arriving passengers are interviewed by security personnel. The questioning is polite and friendly, and the whole process seems like a simple informal chat. Interviewers look for such warning signs as nervousness, lack of a concrete reason for traveling to Israel, and suspicious travel history (some Arabic countries or countries with Muslim majority such as Indonesia and Malaysia). “Risky” passengers may be sent to private rooms for questioning and searches. In rare cases, the officials might ask you to open your email or Facebook for inspection.
Try to have your answers ready for this process. If you have hosts in Israel, make sure you know their names and contact details (they might be called to validate this information). If you will be staying in a hotel, have the reservation details. Tell the truth, stay calm and relaxed – nothing is personal, and you are not a suspect.
On completion of the interview, a sticker with a barcode will be stamped on the back of your passport. It will start with a number from “1” to “6”. Travelers who aren’t considered a threat at all by Israeli security are given numbers from “1” to “4”. Number “5” is for foreign visitors who raise some red flags (they may be questioned again). Number “6” is considered a high-security risk and such travelers would be subjected to further stringent questioning and screening.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and others.
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: @EL_AL_AIRLINES” if contacting Israeli national carrier EL AL Airlines). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Flights to Israel from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Israel. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Israel, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are multiple options for direct flights from United States to Israel. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, JetBlue, Lufthansa, and United Airlines offer non-stop flights to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington. Prices start at $500 one-way for 11-14 hours long flight.
If you are departing from Canada, Air Canada flies direct to Tel Aviv from Toronto (flight time: 10 hours 30 min). - Israel is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Israel with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Israel from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Air France, British Airways, KLM, LOT, and Lufthansa. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Israel, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Israel from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Israel from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (March to November).
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Superdeals airlines don't want you to see:
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at Israeli airports
It is always a good idea to bring some cash with you to Israel. The official currency of Israel is the New Israel Shekel or shekel for short (usually abbreviated “NIS”), subdivided into 100 agorot.
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Israeli airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
Plan ahead and bring a significant proportion of your spending money in cash. You may also try to exchange some money for the Israeli shekel at one of the plentiful ATMs located at the airports, and all over the country. Virtually all of them accept foreign Visa and MasterCards.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and others.
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: @EL_AL_AIRLINES” if contacting Israeli national carrier EL AL Airlines). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Flights to Israel with stopover
Direct flights to Israel are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Israel. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Israel with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Israel will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Israel from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Israel — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Israel are just 2-5 hours long. Most large European hubs have a nonstop connection to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport - including Amsterdam, Athens, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Warsaw, and Zurich. You can fly non-stop from Europe to Israel with popular low-cost airlines such as EasyJet, Pegasus Airlines, RyanAir and Wizz Air.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Israel include Aegan Airlines, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Iberia, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Israel from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Israel from these European airport hubs: LondonLHR
and ManchesterMAN
in the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRA
and MunichMUC
in Germany, ParisCDG
and NiceNCE
in France, AmsterdamAMS
in the Netherlands, MadridMAD
and BarcelonaBCN
in Spain, RomeFCO
and MilanoMXP
in Italy, BrusselsBRU
in Belgium, CopenhagenOSL
in Denmark, OsloOSL
in Norway, StockholmARN
in Sweden, ZurichZRH
in Switzerland, LisbonLIS
in Portugal, ViennaVIE
in Austria, WarsawWAW
in Poland, PraguePRG
in Czech Republic, and DublinDUB
in Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Israel
Find the lowest prices for flights to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
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How to book SuperDeals?
At the Air Traveler Club, our go-to solution for finding cheap airfares to Israel is Google Flights. Every time we send SuperDeals to our 110,000 members (see some examples), we include links to Google Flights so that each deal can be booked immediately.
Google Flights then showcases various options for booking the deal: you can almost always book directly with the airline (by cutting out the middleman) or – alternatively – with an OTA that offers the same flight at a similar price. Once you have chosen your booking option, you will be redirected to the external website where you can finalize your ticket purchase.
One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar that appears underneath the booking options. It provides a visual representation of the price in comparison to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline) – indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher.

If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”) don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly – 40% to 80% – cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.
For more details on how to book deals on Google Flights, check out this video:

If you are not Air Traveler Club subscriber yet, you’re missing out on SuperDeals (we often send deals to Israel). Signup now to start saving 40–80% on flights. It’s free!
Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Israel will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.

Last-minute flights to Israel. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Israel almost always never works out.
Based on years of research, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. To make the most money, they will sell their cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of these travelers who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can offer last-minute deals to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead and booking early is your best chance to secure a great deal on your flight to Israel.
Airlines of Israel
Israel’s national flag carrier is EL AL Israel Airlines operating from its base in Ben Gurion Airport. “El Al” comes from a Hebrew word that means “upwards” or “to the skies”. EL AL offers the largest choice of non-stop and indirect flights to Israel from more than 50 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. El Al is considered one of the world’s safest airlines – thanks to stringent security procedures, a plainclothed security guard on board every flight, and aircraft equipped with missile defense systems.
The three other Israeli airlines are Arkia, IsrAir, and Ayit Aviation. These smaller carriers are mostly focusing on short-haul routes, offering flights at lower prices in comparison to full-service EL AL. However, because they manage affordable tickets by cutting down on their operation costs, they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment. In most cases, their tickets are fixed and non-refundable in case of no show-up or cancellation.
Flights to Israel from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Israel. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
Direct flights and flights with one layover to Israel are available from all major airports in Australia – SydneySYD
, BrisbaneBNE
, MelbourneMEL
, PerthPER
, AdelaideADL
, CairnsCNS
, Gold CoastOOL
, CanberraCBR
, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL
, WellingtonWLG
, ChristchurchCHC
, QueenstownZQN
, DunedinDUD
. - In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Israel with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Israel are AirBaltic, Air Europa, Corendon Air, EasyJet, FlyDubai, Pegasus Airlines, RyanAir, SunExpress, TransAvia, Vueling, and Wizz Air.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Israel. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. However, El Al Israel Airlines plans to launch a direct flight route between Melbourne and Tel Aviv sometime in 2023.
Prices of flights to Israel from Australia and New Zealand
Real-time economy class fares to Israel from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.
Prices in Australian Dollar.
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from flight experts
Fly half-price (or less!) from Australia and New Zealand to Israel:
Fly early in the morning
Early morning flights (6 am or earlier) are usually cheaper than other day schedules. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early.
Moreover, there tend to be fewer delays if you fly early in the morning. Due to increasing air traffic, delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Israel with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
By heading to the airport before rush hour, you can at least halve the time spent in city traffic. Airports are less crowded in the early morning, and with fewer travelers at the airport, there will be no long lines at the check-in and security.
Best way to upgrade to Business Class for cheap
A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Israel, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, an airline will send you an email with a link to their website where you can place a “blind” bid. Alternatively, you can go to the website directly and check if your seat qualifies for an upgrade by providing the Booking Reference number.
There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed via email, and your seat will be upgraded.

How to choose the right bid amount? Just check the airline website for the regular cost of a business class seat to Israel, then subtract what you paid for the economy fare. Place your bid for around 10% to 30% of that price. The alternative strategy is to bid slightly above the competition. If, for example, the minimum bid is $500, try to bid $550-$600, as most people will offer the baseline amount required.
The more available business class seats the airline has on your flight, the lower bid can be successfully used. Check the airline’s daily schedule for flights to Israel – if there is more than one flight on your chosen route (more available seats), you can safely bid close to the minimum required amount.
Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp), Cathay Pacific (Upgrade Bid), Etihad Airways (Bid To Upgrade), Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Hawaiian Airlines (Bid Up), LATAM (Cabin Upgrade), Lufthansa (Bid Upgrade), Royal Jordanian (Go Crown), Qantas (Bid Now), SAS (SAS Upgrade), Singapore Airlines (mySQupgrade), SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).
“Book Flights Now, Pay Later” — is it worth it?
Booking a flight and paying for it later has recently become a popular trend in the travel industry, with many airlines offering delayed payment plans. They will allow you to make flight reservation to Israel now and then pay the bill in installments. But should you take advantage?
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans are essentially short-term personal loans. By partnering with financial companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, PayPal Credit, Fly Now Pay Later, and Uplift, airlines can offer their loan services on the checkout page. When you book the flight with the BNPL option, the company pays the airline, and you repay the loan in installments over a set period (usually up to 24 months), with a set interest rate.
BNPL providers have varying terms and fees. Some may offer interest-free loans but have fees for late payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR). There may also be transaction fees, down payment requirements, and many companies even run a credit check on the traveler.

Among the airlines that offer a “fly now, pay later” option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is BNPL financing worth it? If paid off on time, interest-free delayed payment on your flight ticket to Israel can be a great way to free up your cash flow. However, there may be safer alternatives available – such as taking advantage of an introductory 0% interest offer on a credit card or using flight price “freezing” services like Hopper.
Hidden-city ticketing hack
Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.
It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.
How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use the Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Israel.
Flights to Israel from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Israel look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Israel will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Israel and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Flights from major Asian airports to Israel
Asia is home to some of the busiest and most connected airports in the world. All major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Israel — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
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Get curated deals to Israel from our flight experts:
Take advantage of loyalty programs
Choose an airline that suits you the best, then stick to it. By becoming a ‘regular’, you will be able to use its loyalty program and earn “miles” (or points) – not only for flying but also for everyday expenses (if your card is affiliated with an airline).
Points earned this way often add up over time and are extremely helpful in flying at reduced fares. Airlines offer not only ticket discounts for their frequent flyers, but also special travel perks such as cabin class upgrades, increased checked baggage allowance, or access to their airport lounges so you can relax during long layovers.
If you often fly with Emirates, opt for Skywards, with Qantas – for Qantas Frequent Flyer, with Singapore Airlines – for KrisFlyer, etc.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Israel to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Israel and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Israel, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips
Every year, airlines handle millions of bags and a small percentage never make it to their final destinations. Avoid lost luggage nightmares on your trip to Israel by removing old tags from previous flights on your suitcases – they can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners. It’s also a good idea to label your luggage with your name, address, and phone number (both inside and outside the case) and attach a GPS-tracker device like Apple AirTag or Samsung SmartTag.
For peace of mind, consider purchasing travel insurance to cover the full value of your luggage, as airline liability usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.
FAQ: Flying to Israel
Q: What is the cheapest time of year to fly to Israel?
A: The best time to book cheap flights to Israel tends to be during the winter low season – November through February (except around Christmas and New Year's holidays, when many Christian tourists come). The weather is cooler, travel is not popular, and with significantly fewer visitors, everything, including air tickets, is cheaper.
Q: Which airport to fly into Israel if you go to Jerusalem?
A: As there is no airport in Jerusalem, most visitors enter the country via Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). Although the airport code is TLV (which stands for Tel Aviv), the airport is located in the middle of Israel, between Tel Aviv (distance: 30 km/20 miles) and Jerusalem (55 km/35 miles). It only takes around 30 minutes to go from the airport to Jerusalem.
Q: Which big airlines are flying to Israel?
A: Among the legacy, full-service airlines that operate flights to Israel are: Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta, KLM, LOT, Qantas, Thai Airways, Virgin Australia, and Turkish Airlines.
Q: Why are flights to Israel so expensive?
A: The flight prices to Israel depend primarily on which part of the world you are flying from, and the airline you're flying with. For example, the cheapest tickets to Tel Aviv from Central Europe are around €150-€250 one-way with full-service airlines such as KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, or Turkish Airlines. However, you can fly for as low as €50-€100 if you choose one of the popular budget carriers - EasyJet, WizzAir, RyanAir, Pegasus Airlines, etc.
The flight prices to Israel also depend on the time of booking. High demand + low supply = higher fares. If you travel during the peak season (high demand) and book a last-minute flight (low supply - not many tickets left), your flight to Israel will be costly (expect to pay 2 or 3 times more than the average price!).
The number of carriers that fly to Israel from your region also plays a role. Neighboring countries in the Middle East and Asia tend to have plenty of flights, not only with large, full-service airlines but also with regional low-cost carriers. Competition is fierce, so prices are low.
Finally, there are oil prices and the fact that airfares are pegged to the US dollar. These factors are passed on to travelers, making your flight ticket even more expensive.
Q: Can I fly directly from Australia to Israel?
A: No, there are no direct flights from Australian cities to Israel. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Tel Aviv – your journey will have at least one stop.
Q: Can I fly directly from London to Israel?
A: Yes, Aegean Airlines, British Airlines, and EasyJet operate daily non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
Q: What is the best airline to fly to Israel?
A: Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines tend to be the best (most recommended by frequent flyers) among the airlines that operate flights to Israel. On the other hand, the national Israeli carrier El Al Israeli Airlines offers the highest frequency of international flights to Israel and plenty of direct flights - especially from the countries nearby. El Al is also considered the world's safest airline.
Q: When is the best time to book flights to Israel?
A: Plane tickets usually don’t get cheaper closer to the departure date. Even these reasonably priced flights in the low season sell out quite far ahead of the date of travel. It pays to book your ticket well in advance, as it will give you a good range of flight times and seat selection choices.
The best time to book flights to Israel can vary among airlines, but the golden time usually falls between 2 months and 6 months before the departure. So, January is the best time to book flights if you want to visit Israel during the summer.
User Review
4.3 (422 votes)Flights to Israel
Whether on a vacation of a lifetime or a business trip, flying to Israel is not as easy as booking local travel.
Most likely you are looking at a long-haul trip — and every layover will add a few more hours if you choose not to take a direct flight. Choose your airline wisely, by reading the online reviews left by passengers who have already taken a similar route. Always look for their in-flight experience: seats (are they comfy and spacious?), menu (was it delicious with plenty of choices for different tastes and diets?), and the entertainment options available onboard (the quality of screens and headphones, the range of movie/music/tv channels on offer, etc).
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. Leave it too late and you might have to pay almost double the price, especially if you want to fly during school holidays and popular times like New Year's Eve. If you're not yet an Air Traveler Club subscriber, sign up now — we'll send you lots of discounted offers for free. Our members often save $500 or more on flights to Israel!
Pros
- Plenty of airlines flying to Israel
- Cheap tickets available
- Flight hacks available
Cons
- Long-haul flights can be expensive