Arkia to Add Tel Aviv-Saigon Service
The new route is scheduled to begin in October 2026. Flights will operate once a week, departing Tel Aviv on Thursdays and returning from Saigon on Saturday nights. The route will join Arkia’s weekly Tuesday flights to Hanoi.
Israeli airline Arkia announced Sunday that it will launch flights to Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, expanding its operations in Vietnam after opening a route to Hanoi earlier this year.
The new route is scheduled to begin in October 2026. Flights will operate once a week, departing Tel Aviv on Thursdays and returning from Saigon on Saturday nights. The route will join Arkia’s weekly Tuesday flights to Hanoi.
Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said the new route follows the success of the airline’s Hanoi service and is part of a broader strategy to expand long-haul operations.
“The new route to Saigon is another step in the implementation of Arkia’s strategic plan to expand its long-haul flight operations and deepen our activity in the East,” Berlowitz said.
He said the combination of Hanoi and Saigon would allow Israeli travelers to move through Vietnam more easily and plan trips with greater flexibility.
Arkia Vice President of Commerce Sapir Ifargan said the route reflects growing Israeli demand for travel to Vietnam and the broader Far East.
“We are attentive to the high demand from the Israeli public for Vietnam, and are pleased to announce the expansion of Arkia’s operations in the country with the launch of the new route to Saigon,” Ifargan said.
She said that operating flights to both Hanoi and Saigon would give customers a more complete travel experience in one of the destinations that has become increasingly popular among Israelis.
Arkia cited Vietnam’s culture, landscapes, urban atmosphere and local cuisine as key reasons for its growing appeal to Israeli tourists. Vietnam has become a more prominent destination for Israeli travelers seeking longer trips in Asia, with many combining major cities, rural landscapes, beaches and food tourism.
The launch of the Saigon route also reflects a broader trend among Israeli airlines seeking to expand long-haul service to Asian destinations as demand recovers and travelers look for alternatives to traditional European routes.
For Arkia, the move strengthens its position in the Israeli leisure travel market and gives it a larger foothold in Southeast Asia. By offering service to both northern and southern Vietnam, the airline is aiming to make Vietnam more accessible for Israeli passengers planning multi-city itineraries.
The new flights are expected to begin in time for the 2026-2027 winter travel season.