Greek airline offers daily flights between Tel Aviv, Athens

Greek airline Sky Express announced Thursday that it will launch daily, direct flights between Athens and Tel Aviv beginning Dec. 2. One-way fares will start at €109 (approximately $119), excluding carry-on or checked baggage—significantly lower than the average fares offered by Israeli carriers, which typically begin at around €180 ($196).

A320neo by Sky Express

(Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock)

“We are excited to expand our international network with the launch of direct service to Tel Aviv, a dynamic and strategically important destination,” said Vasileios Krasanakis, Sky Express’s Director of Route and Pricing.

The airline noted the new route will offer Israeli travelers convenient connections to Sky Express’s extensive domestic network within Greece, as well as a broad range of international destinations. The company currently operates flights to 33 cities across Greece and 26 destinations abroad. In Israel, Sky Express is represented by Tal Aviation. The new service will be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Meanwhile, Air Seychelles announced that it will resume flights to Israel beginning Aug. 7. The inaugural flight from Tel Aviv to Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles, will mark the airline’s return to regular service. Two to three weekly flights are expected throughout the summer season.

The Lufthansa Group—which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings—also unveiled details Thursday about its return to operations in Israel starting Aug. 1.

“Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Lufthansa Cargo will resume daily flights to and from Tel Aviv, departing from Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna beginning Aug. 1,” the company said in a statement. “Brussels Airlines is expected to restart its Tel Aviv service on Aug. 13. Altogether, the group plans 44 weekly flights to and from Tel Aviv throughout the month.”

Under the revised schedule, Lufthansa will operate routes to Frankfurt and Munich, Austrian Airlines will fly to Vienna, and Brussels Airlines will cover the Brussels-Tel Aviv route. SWISS, which had previously announced it would suspend service to Israel through Oct. 25, will now resume operations earlier, starting Sept. 29. Eurowings will maintain its suspension of Tel Aviv flights through Oct. 25.