The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is in talks with Arkia, Israel’s second-largest carrier, to launch direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv within the year.
In an interview on Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the government is actively coordinating with Arkia and relevant agencies to streamline regulatory requirements.
“There’s Arkia Airline. It's a Tel Aviv airline (that’s) interested in having a direct flight to our country.
So we met with them together with the Philippine ambassador to Israel. Hopefully, we can sort out their requirements. But I think usually it takes like another six months,” Lopez said.
Lopez acknowledged that setting up direct flights involves a range of complex issues.
He said the government remains committed to expanding air transport links and has directed the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to coordinate and provide support, encouraging more airlines to establish direct routes to the country.
Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola earlier 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 shows there are about 30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Israel.
Founded in 1949, Arkia Airline was initially established to provide a vital air link to Eilat and has since grown into a domestic, international, and charter airline serving over a million passengers annually.
It operates a modern fleet of Embraer E-195, E-190, and Airbus A-321 Neo LR aircraft across Europe, the Middle East, and Israel, and maintains a certified subsidiary that provides aircraft maintenance, training, and tailored vacation and charter services.