Anyone here flown to Israel (from Australia) before?
 

I may be in Israel next month (February 2024) for work-related purposes, but I notice that many airlines who previously serviced Israeli airports are not flying there at present due to the Gaza conflict.

Direct flights from Australia to Israel have never been an option, but it looks like I can get to Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) via connecting flights from Bangkok, Singapore or Dubai.

Either way, it looks like Israel is not a cheap destination in terms of airfares or hotel rooms. Has anyone taken a flight to Israel and can offer advice on the best travel option? It's a long commute time.

Flights out of Bangkok may be cheaper overall, but I will be flying on airlines I've never flown with before.

I have always handled my own flight bookings and itinerary, but I was talking to a travel agency staff member who told me that the company he works for charges a fee for looking into flight price/comparisons. That fee was upwards of $100, which amazes me. I'd never heard of being charged a fee just to be told the various options!

EL-AL recently had a direct Melbourne to Tel Aviv using a B787.

Not sure if this was a one off or service, startup.

Greg, thanks. I'll check it out. I will be flying out of Sydney ideally, but my work colleague will fly out of Melbourne. Thanks again.

That would have been one of the many COVID repatriation flights.
If it helps, I did fly to Tel Aviv from Australia many years ago now (2008 maybe?) - flew BA B744 to Hong Kong and then ElAl B773 direct, return was ElAl B763 to Bangkok (that flight was long as it had to fly down a very narrow corridor down the Red Sea to Djibouti before heading out towards India. From Bangkok it was back home on BA B744.

No, new service

https://www.touristisrael.com/tel-av...a-el-al/62217/

That's good news, although those Melbourne-Israel direct flights won't start for a few months. Many airlines who fly to Israel have stopped their flights due to the current conflict in Gaza.