Air India Expands Israel Operations with New Mumbai-Tel Aviv Route

In a significant development for Israel's travel and tourism sector, Air India has announced the opening of a new direct flight route between Tel Aviv and Mumbai, scheduled to launch ahead of 2026. The news follows Air India's recent resumption of flights to Israel after a brief hiatus due to security concerns. CEO Campbell Wilson confirmed the company’s plans to launch the route, noting that necessary logistics and aircraft inventory would be arranged to support the new services.

Although tickets for the new Tel Aviv-Mumbai direct flights are not yet available, passengers can already book return flights with a stopover in Delhi for as low as $485, according to Air India's website. The new service aligns with growing bilateral ties between India and Israel, specifically aimed at enhancing tourism, business, and employment exchanges between the two countries.

This route marks a key milestone in Air India's efforts to strengthen its presence in the Israeli market, following a series of disruptions to its flights due to geopolitical events. The airline halted services in Israel in October 2023, resumed operations in March 2024, and temporarily suspended flights again in August 2024 due to escalating security concerns. However, Air India is set to resume five weekly flights to Delhi from March 2025, reaffirming its commitment to the region.

The decision to add the Mumbai-Tel Aviv route follows discussions between India and Israel on enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. Minister of Tourism Haim Katz emphasized the importance of direct flights in fostering economic activity, noting that they are essential for the success of tourism-related ventures. Air India is also upgrading its fleet to cater to premium customers, who are expected to frequent this new route.

In addition to Air India’s expansion, the Lufthansa Group is also strengthening its connections with Israel, announcing new direct flights to Hamburg from February 3. This will further improve accessibility to Israel from Europe, with the new service operated by Eurowings, offering two weekly flights. The fare for a return ticket to Hamburg starts at $199.

As both airlines expand their services to Israel, it reflects the growing confidence in the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, which are expected to continue thriving in the coming years.