Air India to Resume Direct Delhi - Tel Aviv Flights from December 1, 2026
Air India will resume its direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv from December 1, 2026, restoring a key air link between India and Israel. Air India will be the only airline operating non-stop flights between the two countries, with five weekly flights scheduled from Sunday through Thursday aboard Boeing 777 aircraft.
Service Details
- Start Date: 1 December 2026
- Frequency: 5 weekly flights (Sunday–Thursday)
- Aircraft: Boeing 777
Flight Schedule:
- AI139 Delhi → Tel Aviv: Departs 05:00 hrs, arrives 08:30 hrs (~7 hrs)
- AI140 Tel Aviv → Delhi: Departs 10:30 hrs, arrives 19:45 hrs (~5 hrs 45 mins)
Significance
- Restores the only non-stop air link between India and Israel.
- Expected to boost tourism, business, and cultural exchange.
- Israel Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting the destination beyond pilgrimage—highlighting leisure, family travel, luxury, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions), and experiential tourism.
Official Statement
Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs (Israel Ministry of Tourism, India), emphasized that direct connectivity makes travel more convenient and flexible, encouraging Indian travellers to explore Israel’s diverse experiences—from Jerusalem’s heritage and Tel Aviv’s beaches and nightlife to the Dead Sea, Galilee, desert landscapes, and Eilat on the Red Sea.
Context
- Before COVID-19, India was a major source market with ~70,000 Indian visitors annually.
- Alongside flight resumption, Israel is strengthening its presence in India through travel trade engagement, destination training, webinars, familiarisation trips, and promotional campaigns.
This route is strategically important—it not only reconnects two countries directly but also opens up Israel’s tourism offerings to new segments of Indian travellers.
