Air Canada moves up Tel Aviv return to Nov. 30 as Israel rebuilds tourism

Air Canada is accelerating the return of its non-stop service between Toronto and Tel Aviv, with flights now set to resume Nov. 30.

The restart comes more than a month earlier than previously planned, with the airline originally scheduled to resume the route on Jan. 17, 2027.

Air Canada, on its website, said the decision to bring forward the restart follows a “thorough review of the security environment.”

The Toronto-Tel Aviv route will operate four times weekly using Boeing 787-9 and 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

READ MORE: Canada, U.S. visitors to Israel jump 73%, destination ramps up tourism investment

Air Canada has repeatedly pushed back its return to Tel Aviv since Israel closed its airspace on Feb. 28 following the outbreak of war with Iran.

The airline’s flights to and from Dubai, however, will remain cancelled until mid-January 2027.

Israel looks to rebuild tourism

The news is a bright spot for the Israel Ministry of Tourism, which is looking to rebuild after several years of war, geopolitical upheaval and diminished air access.

And the country’s new tourism chief in Canada believes there is an appetite for a comeback.

Taimur Mansour, the ministry’s new consul and director of tourism for Canada, recently told PAX that “the recovery is just around the corner” as more airlines return to Israel.

And according to Mansour, Canada is an important piece of the recovery.

READ MORE: Israel’s tourism comeback: New Canadian chief says “great opportunity” lies ahead

“I chose to come to Canada during these challenging times because it's a strategic market,” he told us at an industry meet-and-greet earlier this month. “It has one of the biggest Jewish communities in the world. It has a very strong Christian community, and during the pandemic, it was a central market that brought many people to Israel.”

One significant barrier remains, however, and that is Canada’s travel advisory.

The Government of Canada currently advises Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Israel due to the “volatile security situation in the region.”

Beyond affecting traveller sentiment, the advisory can create challenges for obtaining travel insurance – an issue PAX raised with Mansour.

“There is an advisory, but it's mid-level, which means the government recognizes that Israel is safe in general terms,” Mansour said.

“Yes, it’s a bit more difficult for people to buy insurance, but there are companies that sell insurance. I think this will change soon. Hopefully.”

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