Argentina and Israel have agreed to launch a new direct air route linking Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv, with services expected to begin later in 2026, Xinhua reported on April 20.
The route will be operated by Israel’s flag carrier El Al and marks the first nonstop connection between the two countries. The announcement was made during a joint press conference involving Argentine President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an official visit to Israel.
El Al said the service will be its longest direct route, connecting Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport with Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport. Flights are expected to begin around November, initially operating twice weekly using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The launch marks Israel’s return to South America after more than a decade without direct services to the region. Previous routes to Brazil were discontinued in 2011.
The agreement forms part of broader aviation and cooperation deals signed during Milei’s state visit, which focused on strengthening bilateral ties across sectors including tourism and transport.
Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with most residents based in Buenos Aires, and currently has no direct air links to Israel.
Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev said the government would work to expand connectivity between the two countries as part of wider efforts to deepen relations.
The new route comes amid closer political alignment between Argentina and Israel under Milei’s administration, with both governments seeking to strengthen economic and cultural links through improved air access