Direct flights of two foreign airlines restoration to Moscow, Russia, scheduled for May.

Direct flights of two foreign airlines restoration to Moscow, Russia, scheduled for May.

Return Flights: El Al Resumes Operations between Israel and Russia

📸 CREDIT: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS.

Great news for travel enthusiasts! Two major airlines are rekindling their ties with Russia, marking a significant step for international tourism. However, buzzkill - ticket prices are high.

ISRAEL, TEL AVIV

Heads Rolling: El Al, Israel's national airline, is readying to take off from Moscow's Domodedovo Airport to Tel Aviv as of May 1. The flights were suspended at the year-end end of December 2024.

Itinerary: El Al plans a weekly schedule, featuring seven flights - one each on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and two on Thursdays and Sundays. Boeing 737-900 aircraft, capable of seating 175 passengers, will depart from Moscow at 14:50 and 20:50 (on days with two flights). In contrast, flights from Ben Gurion Airport will kick off at 8:00 AM and 13:55.

Joining El Al, Russian airlines Red Wings and "Azimuth" also provide direct flights from Moscow and Sochi. Starting June, Red Wings plans a route from St. Petersburg to Tel Aviv as well.

Take note, the return of El Al means 34 weekly flights from Russia to Israel this summer! As Vladimir Shklyar, Director of the Russian Representative Office of the Ministry of Tourism of Israel and Plenipotentiary Minister of the Embassy of the State of Israel in Russia, puts it - "Tourists now have more choices in terms of price and flight times."

Flight Time: Approximately 5.5 hours.

Top Attractions: Besides Israel's holy sites in Jerusalem such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Western Wall, and others, don't forget about the charming beaches in Tel Aviv, the legendary Masada fortress in the Judean Desert, and the unique healing waters of the Dead Sea.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory to Russian tourists visiting Israel, urging caution and avoiding areas bordering Syria, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Although, journalists from KP.RU affirm that the situation in tourist areas is safe.

Ticketing: Round-trip fares for mid-May to June start at 72,000 rubles per person (without baggage) and 80,000 rubles with baggage.

Visa: No visa required. However, an ETA-IL entry permit must be obtained a minimum of three days before the flight. Fill out an application on the Population and Immigration Authority's website (israel-entry.piba.gov.il) and pay a fee of 25 shekels (around 700 rubles). Unfortunately, Russian cards are not accepted. You can obtain the permit through the VFS Global visa center for an additional 5 dollar service fee (paid in rubles using a Russian bank card or cash).

VIETNAM, HANOI

Foreign Flights: Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam's national carrier, is set to make a comeback to Russia on May 8 after a hiatus of three years. Flights will depart from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport to the heart of Vietnam, Hanoi, twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Big Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner aircraft, accommodating 310 passengers, will set sail from Moscow at 17:40 and return from Hanoi at 10:45.

Vietnam Airlines is not the first to connect the two countries. Aeroflot provides flights to Ho Chi Minh City and the resort town of Nha Trang from Moscow, while "IrAero" flies to the island of Phu Quoc, Hanoi, and Nha Trang from Irkutsk. In March-April, charter flights to Nha Trang were launched by major tour operators on the aircraft of Azur Air and Ikar. Hanoi, however, offers a different and northern taste of Vietnam.

Fascinating Sights for Tourists: Hanoi, though not a beach city, is home to the South China Sea and Halong Bay, one of the most beautiful spots in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractions include the Old Quarter, French Quarter, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, and symphony of socialist structures in the Vietnamese capital.

Cost: Prices for mid-May to June flights range from 97,000 rubles per person (including baggage).

Visa: No visa is necessary, as you can stay in the country for up to 45 days without a visa.

VACATION PLANS

Red Sea Rendezvous

Russian airline Red Wings is gearing up to offer direct flights from Moscow to Eilat, an Israeli resort on the Red Sea, starting June 12. Previously, more than 20 flights a week connected Russia to Eilat, but the route has been off the map for the past five years. Red Wings plans to fly once a week on Thursdays from Zhukovsky Airport on Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft, making a technical stop in Sochi, resulting in a journey time of approximately 7.5 hours.

Red Wings has recently gained approval from Rosaviatsiya to operate flights from Moscow to the resort island of Langkawi in Malaysia. The specific dates are yet to be announced, but talks about direct air communication between Russia and visa-free Malaysia have been in talks. This is just the beginning!

Cost: From 51,000 rubles per person (round trip) without baggage, 64,000 rubles with baggage.

In other news, check out "Are you really from Russia? We've been waiting for you!": Israel restores international tourism and "Oil companies tame dinosaurs: How oil is extracted in Russia" to learn more about the travel and energy sector!

[1] https://www.israel.travel/ru/plan-your-trip/entry-regulations[2] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/Before-You-Go/visas-visa-requirements-by-destination/2023/Vietnam-Visa-requirements.html[3] https://visaanjung.my/vfsglobal/vietnam/[4] https://etaisrael.gov.il/en[5] https://stat-il.gov.il/_srcfiles/arh/years/2025/250205entry.pdf

1. The resumption of El Al flights between Israel and Russia, confirmed on May 1, is a significant boost for the lifestyle and travel sectors, offering travelers more choices for price and flight times.
2. The Moscow-Domodedovo to Tel Aviv route, operated by El Al, will consist of seven flights per week, with Boeing 737-900 aircraft providing a seating capacity for 175 passengers.
3. In addition to El Al, Russian airlines Red Wings and "Azimuth" offer direct flights from Moscow and Sochi to Israel, while Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam's national carrier, plans to resume flights from Moscow to Hanoi twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
4. Russian airline Red Wings is also planning to offer direct flights from Moscow to Eilat, an Israeli resort on the Red Sea, starting June 12, providing more travel options for vacationers.

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