Air India to Resume Delhi–Tel Aviv Direct Flights in January 2026
Air India will relaunch direct flights between New Delhi and Tel Aviv on January 1, 2026, operating five times weekly (Sunday to Thursday) using Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The route, suspended due to regional tensions, will cut travel time to about 5.5 hours by flying over Saudi airspace, enhancing tourism and trade. Israel’s tourism authority highlights this as a major boost for attracting Indian visitors, with potential for further route expansions by Israeli airlines.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has officially confirmed that Air India will resume its nonstop Delhi–Tel Aviv service from January 1, 2026, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. The flights will operate five days a week (Sunday to Thursday) on advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, reducing travel time to approximately five and a half hours by utilizing a shorter, secure path over Saudi airspace. The schedule is designed for passenger convenience: departures from Delhi at 7:00 am (arrival in Tel Aviv at 9:55 am) and returns from Tel Aviv at 11:40 am (arrival in Delhi at 8:50 pm). Israeli tourism officials, including Consul for Tourism Affairs Galit Hoffman, emphasize that the restart of this direct route is a top priority for attracting Indian tourists, making Israel more accessible for business and leisure travel. Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz has also advocated for expanding air links, including a potential Mumbai–Tel Aviv route by 2026. In a related development, Israeli carrier Arkia Airlines is evaluating the launch of direct flights to Indian cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa using long-range Airbus A321neo LR jets, which could further increase connectivity and competition. The article underscores that these aviation developments are expected to boost tourism flows, stabilize airfares, and reinforce the strong diplomatic and economic ties between India and Israel.
