Israir Will Consider Direct Flights to Phuket
The airline plans to expand route options following a significant spike in Israeli travel to the Thai destination.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Middle East
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Israir Airline is evaluating the launch of direct flights between Tel Aviv and Phuket to meet growing travel demand. This potential expansion would increase weekly direct services to the popular Thai destination to as many as six flights.
Why it matters
The proposed route expansion follows a 52.43% surge in Israeli arrivals to Phuket during July. The move aims to capitalize on rising interest among Israeli travelers for direct connectivity to the island.
Phuket recorded 310.96 billion baht in total tourism revenue between January and July with an average hotel occupancy rate of 75.56%. During this same period, the island welcomed 619,130 Russian visitors.
The players
Israir Airline
Israir is an Israeli airline that provides international flight services and is currently evaluating new route expansions to meet demand.
El Al Israel Airlines
El Al is the flag carrier of Israel and currently operates direct flights between Tel Aviv and Phuket.
Arkia Israeli Airlines
Arkia is an Israeli airline that currently maintains existing direct flight operations to the Thai island of Phuket.
The details
Israir currently operates four to five routes and is looking to add service to bring the total to six weekly direct flights. El Al and Arkia currently serve the market, which saw 16,152 Israeli visitors in July alone.
Timeline
July 2019 served as the baseline for comparing Israeli visitor growth.
16,152 Israeli visitors arrived in Phuket in July 2026.
Phuket hosted over 8 million total visitors between January and July 2026.
The report regarding the potential route expansion was published September 23, 2026.
Travel Outlook
This route expansion follows the post-pandemic surge in Israeli outbound tourism demand. It highlights how airlines are rapidly adjusting capacity to align with shifts in international vacation preferences and seasonal destination popularity.
Travelers looking to book trips to Phuket may find more flexible scheduling options and increased seat availability if the new routes are confirmed. Those planning visits should monitor airline announcements to secure tickets during peak demand periods.
The takeaway
The potential addition of new direct routes highlights the strong influence of regional demand on international airline scheduling. Prospective travelers should leverage these increased flight options to simplify trip logistics to major Thai destinations.
Further reading
For additional context on regional travel shifts, see our Middle East coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Thaiger.
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