DOTr eyes direct Phl-Israel flights

No more connecting flights to Israel and back?

Filipino travelers and overseas workers may soon benefit from faster, more convenient trips to Israel as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) pushes to launch direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv within the year. 

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said on Tuesday that the agency is working closely with Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh to open the route.

“We can start working on the direct flight from Israel to the Philippines. Rest assured that I’m going to work closely with Ambassador Aileen (Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola) and the DFA and the other relevant government agencies,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, Kursh said the Israeli government is upbeat about the planned direct flights, noting strong interest among Israelis to visit top Philippine турист destinations.

“I do identify this opportunity in business as a big opportunity, and the sky is the limit. So let’s try to explore these opportunities both for Israelis and Filipinos,” Kursh said.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola said direct flights could unlock broader economic opportunities for both countries.

“These are very important for us. My long-range goal is actually investments, two-way investments, two-way projects. This way, the flight is a conduit to all of those interactions that we will be having. And I’m really very excited to make this happen sooner than later,” Mendiola said.

Data from the Department of Migrant Workers as of June 2025 showed that there are about  30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Israel.