Arkia announced that it would be opening a new direct route to the capital of the Philippines, Manila, starting on January 3, 2027, as the airline expands its international flights from Ben-Gurion Airport.

The announcement comes as international airlines are slowly returning to Israel, with the US airlines United and Delta restarting their flights to Tel Aviv this past week.

The new route will operate once weekly, with flights departing Tel Aviv on Sunday afternoons and returning from Manila on Monday mornings. The seasonal service will run from January through April. Flight time is around 11 hours eastbound and 12 hours and 20 minutes westbound.

Arkia will operate the route using a wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft provided by GullivAir, and will offer two service classes: Economy Class with 268 seats and a premium Business Class cabin with 19 fully flat beds. Business Class passengers will enjoy upgraded baggage allowances, amenity kits, lounge access, and designer meals created by Arkia Executive Chef Shahaf Shabtay.

Ticket prices will start at $750 one-way in Economy and $1,800 one-way in Business Class.

Tel Aviv-Manila is the latest ‘long-haul’ route in Arkia’s expanding destinations

The new route to Manila joins other long-haul destinations that the airline has opened in recent years, notably New York, Bangkok, Phuket, Hanoi, and Tokyo, which begin at the end of October.

“The launch of the Manila route is another step in further deepening Arkia’s operations in the Far East and in implementing our strategic plan for long-haul routes,” Oz Berlowitz, CEO of Arkia, said.

“The Philippines is a fascinating destination with significant tourism potential, alongside business, economic and diplomatic potential for deepening ties between Israel and the Philippines. The launch of the new route will create real competition on the route and bring more attractive fares to the Israeli consumer,” he said.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola told The Jerusalem Post that she had approached lawmakers with the idea of the flight and “within one meeting, there was a decision made to look at the idea.”

This will be the first direct flight between the two countries.

Business and pleasure 

The Philippines has become increasingly popular among Israeli travelers in recent years, in part due to its pristine beaches (over 7,000), lush nature, and vibrant culture. Manila serves as the country’s main international gateway, offering convenient onward connections to thousands of islands and world-renowned destinations, such as Palawan, Boracay, and Cebu.

“Experience the Philippines yourself, don’t just scroll through the feeds,” said Mendiola. “There are so many things to do… we have the surf, the sea, and turquoise waters.”

Mendiola added that the flight received an exception from the country’s “boutique” yet busy airport in order to increase tourism between the two countries and to open discussions for free trade between the two countries.

The Philippines is part of the ASEAN free trade zone, which could potentially allow Israel to leverage the network of free-trade agreements that Manila has, if the company is registered as a Philippine company.

“I am especially happy because this flight is about much more than getting from Tel Aviv to Manila. It is about bringing people closer to the people and places they love: Israelis to their dream holidays in the Philippines, Filipino pilgrims to the Holy Land, and our workers home to their families.

“This flight is a bridge between our two countries – and, most importantly, between our people,” she said.

Mediola told the Post that in addition to tourism, she hoped the direct flight might increase business and economic dealings as there are no visa requirements for Israelis in the Philippines and vice versa.

She explained that Israeli companies might be interested in the country’s semiconductor, AI, blue economy, and agricultural sectors.

“Manila is about business, and the islands are for tourism,” Mediola said.

This post was originally published on here.