Well here’s an interesting new route that’s surprising on the surface, but also quite logical…
Continue reading: Air Seychelles’ Surprising New Once Weekly Flight To Israel
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Saw a El Al charter at Mahe when I was there last year, so I'm not shocked based on that.
Any idea about award availability and pricing? Only thing I could find was that it'll be 800$ RT econ, but no (public) word about prices with Etihad Guest.
I can't imagine the codeshare with El Al will yield much. TLV is a nightmare for transiting.
As @RP pointed out these flights are too long for the same two pilots to fly both the out and back segments. They must deadhead 2 pilots on each of these flights. I don't think the same rules apply to flight attendants, especially if they staff it with 6 flight attendants to help reduce the workload. Or yes they could give them all a week-long vacation.
Air Seychelle was not a wise investment opportunity due to their very small network
Etihad's involvement has a precedent: Alitalia flew several daily flights to TLV while 49% of their shares belonged to the UAE airline.
Currently, transiting in TLV hardly exists: in 2018, of the circa 23M passengers TLV handled, less then 10K transited...
This may change in coming years since geographically it makes sense as a hub connecting Asia and Europe. El Al, which is still the biggest carrier there, seems to have understood it as it is marketing more and more tickets connecting European cities and, for instance, Hong Kong.
Having said that, that airport is becoming quite congested even without being a hub, so who knows....
Lie flat seats on their new planes? (This is a 6hr red eye). Curious as to what Etihad will charge for this flight...
"...there is an irony to the 250,000EUR payment from Israel indirectly going into the UAE’s pockets"
Not really, as that isn't going into the UAE's pocket, indirectly or not....
The most fun I have had in a plane all year was on a short domestic Air Seychelles flight. Super friendly inflight crew. There is no door between the passenger cabin and the pilots, and after you land, they're happy to chat. Totally worth it!
Etihad owns 49% in Air Serbia and Air Serbia flies daily to Tel Aviv, yet no flights to Abu Dhabi.
@LAXJeff, They'll most likely fly south over there Red Sea, then a little east to avoid Somalia, then south.
@Uri Goren - agreed.
Similar to LY's flight to BOM, which they use the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to access.
Will this allow a transit from North America El Al flights, i.e. the new flight from San Francisco? Could be a more efficient connection than Europe.
TLV is the absolute worst airport to transit especially if you are brown. The Israeli border police will sometimes question you for upto 30-45 minutes. Mind you this is primary not secondary screening which can go on for hours. Paranoia is widespread. So highly doubt you will make any tight connections in TLV.
On the other hand Israeli backpackers can be found everywhere. Israel has a tradition of kids who graduate high school to take a year to go backpacking before signing up for their military service or to take a year after the military service before going to college. This means cheap tourist destinations will always have full planes from TLV.
Tel Aviv airport is modern and clean.
Israel has very hostile neighbors therefore they have to be vigilant on security procedures at the airport.