Israeli carrier Israir Aviation & Tourism Ltd. has set its sights on entering the Indian market with proposed direct flights from Tel Aviv to Delhi and Mumbai. A formal designation request has been submitted to the Indian civil aviation authorities seeking approval to operate these routes. Subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, Israir has indicated its intention to commence operations as early as Passover in April 2026.
Israir’s proposed entry would further strengthen direct air connectivity between India and Israel, complementing the planned resumption of nonstop Delhi–Tel Aviv services by Air India from January 2026. The development also comes amid wider interest from Israeli carriers in India. Arkia Airlines has previously expressed intent to explore direct services from Israel to destinations including Goa, Kochi, and Mumbai. For India–Israel air services, it reflects growing confidence in sustained bilateral travel demand and the long-term growth potential of the corridor.
One of Israel’s leading airlines, Israir operates scheduled and charter services across Europe, the Mediterranean, and regional markets. As part of its long-haul expansion, the airline has sought designation to operate services on six key routes—Tokyo, Hanoi, Delhi, Mumbai, Phuket, and Bangkok—markets that continue to record strong travel demand.
Commenting on the development, Galit Hoffman, Consul – Tourism Affairs for India, Israel Ministry of Tourism, said, “We have been actively working to restore air connectivity and strengthen strategic airline partnerships, and this development provides a timely boost to those efforts. It reinforces our long-term growth outlook for inbound tourism from India and India–Israel air travel.”
The timing of the move aligns with Israel’s gradual tourism recovery. In November 2025, the country recorded 122,500 international tourist arrivals, reflecting a marked improvement despite border conflict and pandemic-affected periods in recent years. Cumulatively, 1.18 million tourist arrivals were recorded between January and November 2025, with total arrivals for the full year forecast at approximately 1.3 million.
Tourism from India continues to show strong upward momentum, with India firmly positioned among Israel’s top ten global source markets and ranking as its leading market from Asia.
The proposed services, alongside the restoration of existing routes and rising airline interest, are expected to play a key role in rebuilding capacity, improving accessibility, and deepening aviation and tourism ties between India and Israel in the coming years.
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