Arkia will become the first Israeli airline to launch direct flights to the Philippines in January, a move expected to catalyze tourism and economic ties as the two nations explore a potential future free trade agreement.
The new route to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino main international airport will commence on January 3, 2027, with one weekly direct flight departing on Sundays. The route will be operated using a wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft of GullivAir. One-way ticket prices will start at $750 for economy class seats and $1,800 for business class seats.
Earlier this year, El Al expressed the intention to launch direct flights to Manilla, but no firm start date has since been announced.
“The launch of the Manila route is another step in further deepening Arkia’s operations in the Far East,” Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. “Following New York, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan, we continue to expand the range of direct flight options from Israel.”
“The Philippines is a fascinating destination with significant tourism potential, alongside business, economic and diplomatic potential for deepening ties between Israel and the Philippines,” said Berlowitz.
