Getting here
Almost all tourists visiting Israel fly in…
El Al is Israel's Flag Carrier and the largest airline operating to the country. Image by Flickr user ilya batikov
The state of the art Ben Gurion Airport, located about one third of the way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is waiting to welcome you into Israel. It is here that almost all international flights to Israel come to. The airport which has won numerous awards, serves flights to North America, Europe, the Far East, Southern Asia, the Middle East, and Africa operated by many major international airlines as well as charter and low-cost airlines.
Ben Gurion Airport is the largest in Israel by Flickr user hoyasmeg
A small number of international flights, mostly charter flights, go to Ovda Airport, serving Eilat, although most people wishing to travel to Eilat by air need to change planes at Ben Gurion Airport to either Arkia or Israir who offer domestic flights to Ovda and Eilat Airport itself. If you are wanting to travel to Eilat from within the country you can fly from Tel Aviv’s domestic airport, Sde Dov or from Haifa Airport. Flights from Sde Dov also go to Haifa and Rosh Pina.
Ben Gurion Airport by Flickr user EagleXDV
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From the USA, there are a wide range of airlines and travel options for flying to Israel.
| El Al | New York (JFK)New York (Newark) |
| Delta | New York (JFK)Atlanta |
| Continental | New York (Newark) |
| US Airways | Philadelphia |
Direct flights from New York take about 11 hours, whilst those from Los Angeles take 17 hours.
This list of North American destinations is greatly increased by indirect flights from regional hubs which El Al offer from most other major cities in a code share agreement with American Airlines as do other airlines utilising their own networks.
If you are flying from the USA, it is also worth considering flying with a European airline via a European city. This could take the same time if you have to switch planes, and will break up the journey.
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From Canada, El Al and Air Canada both operate non-stop flights from Toronto. It is also worth considering flying with a European airline via a European city. This could take the same time if you have to switch planes, and will break up the journey.
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From the United Kingdom, El Al, British Airways and Easyjet, fly from the London area. El Al, and British Airways all fly twice daily from Heathrow, whilst El Al has an additional daily flight from Luton. Easyjet operates 6 flights a week flights from Luton. Jet2 fly from Manchester twice a week. Flights from the UK take approximately four to five hours.
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From France, El Al and Air France, as well as low cost airlines, Arkia Israel Airlines, Corsairfly, and New Axis Airways, fly from the Paris area. El Al and New Axis also fly from Marseilles.
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From Germany El Al fly from Munich. Lufthansa are expected to fly from Munich from 2009, although they already fly from Frankfurt, as do El Al.
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No direct flights operate between Israel and Australia, although it is possible to fly via the Far East with El Al, from Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong, or Seoul. Korean Air also fly from Seoul.
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A guide to Ben Gurion Airport
Most international flights come into the new Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport. Car hire desks can be found in the main terminal, whilst the airport train station, connects to Tel Aviv, Haifa and, via the city of Modi’in, Jerusalem. The Tel Aviv and Haifa trains operate 24 hours a day, but not on the Sabbath.
Buses run between the airport and major cities in Israel whilst a regular shuttle bus runs to the Tel Aviv hotel strip. Taxis are readily available at the airport , as are Sheruts, or shared taxis which run to Jerusalem and Haifa amongst other places.
When departing through Ben Gurion Airport, due to tight security, passengers must arrive at least three hours before flights.
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