Air India, the national carrier of India, announced it will resume flights to Israel starting January 1, 2026, operating five weekly flights.
The airline emphasized that the route will take the shorter path over Saudi Arabia. According to the airline’s website, round-trip fares in January are priced at $908. In March, a round-trip ticket is listed at $807.
Air India ceased flights to Israel since the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. There have been two short-lived attempts to resume service in 2024 and 2025, both of which were cut short due to security concerns.
The airline was initially scheduled to resume service in early September, but the suspension was extended. The 2026 deadline marks the airline’s first firm commitment to resuming service.
El Al, Israel’s national airline, has not operated flights to India since 2020, leaving Israeli travelers without a direct connection to the major Asian destination.
Israeli carrier Arkia has recently expressed interest in operating a direct route to India. On Sunday, the company announced that CEO Oz Berlowitz met with the Indian ambassador to Israel to discuss the matter.
Arkia emphasized that the route’s renewal depends in part on the opening of airspace over Oman, an essential step for enabling a shorter and more efficient direct flight.