Almost unnoticed by the general public, air traffic between Vienna and Tel Aviv is expanding significantly. Airlines that have not previously operated on this route are now offering their services.

With Arkia, Israir and Blue Bird Airways, three new carriers are now active. The first-mentioned airline already flies with the Embraer 195 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Israir will follow on August 22, 2021 on Thursdays and Sundays with the Airbus A320. Bluebird will follow on August 23, 2021 with a Boeing 737.

Furthermore, Wizz Air operates three rounds per week. The Ryanair Group flies daily with the Boeing 737-800 from Buzz and the Airbus A320 from Lauda. Austrian Airlines even uses a different aircraft on this route up to twice a day. El Al also offers several flights a week again.

At first glance, the highly developed and obviously very competitive offer among the carriers seems astonishing, because entry into Israel is not permitted for foreigners or is subject to conditions that only a few people can actually meet. Austria is classified by the Israeli authorities as safe with regard to Corona, so that fully vaccinated Israelis can travel with low-threshold requirements. These apparently seem to be very willing to travel and are currently generating such a high demand that three carriers who have not previously operated on Vienna-Tel Aviv-Vienna want to fly in their piece of the pie.

It should be noted, however, that entry into Israel is currently only possible for citizens of the Republic of Israel who are fully vaccinated. “Foreigners” can only enter the country with a few exceptions, which do not include tourist visits. There is a de facto entry ban for non-Israelis.