Israel’s Arkia will launch a direct route between Tel Aviv and Manila from January 3, 2027, becoming the only carrier to fly the sector non-stop, the airline said on September 8, Calcalist reported.
For the travel trade the route fills a clear gap in flights out of TLV. There is currently no direct service between Israel and the Philippines, and the opening follows months of negotiation between Arkia and the Philippine Department of Transportation, which has been courting a direct link to deepen tourism, trade and investment ties.
The weekly frequency is pitched as a test of Israeli demand, with Arkia signalling it will add flights if traffic supports it.
Arkia, Israel’s second-largest airline, will operate the route once a week on Sundays to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport using a widebody Airbus A330 with business and economy cabins.
The outbound flight from Tel Aviv takes about 11 hours, with the return around 12 hours and 20 minutes. Fares start at $750 one way in economy and $1,800 in business.
Manila joins a long-haul network Arkia has built out in recent years, including New York, Bangkok, Phuket and Hanoi, with Tokyo due to follow.
The expansion reflects a strategy to grow direct service to distant destinations, a segment long dominated by large foreign carriers and flag carrier El Al.
The route could also ease fares on travel between Israel and the Philippines, where no direct option currently exists.
Beyond leisure and business demand, Arkia said the service could support pilgrim traffic and travel by the large Filipino workforce in Israel and their families, a steady base of point-to-point demand that underpins the route’s commercial case.