El Al has cancelled its planned direct flight service to Hanoi, Vietnam, just two months before operations were set to begin. The Israeli airline announced the decision after security officials informed the carrier that they could not grant the necessary authorisations for the route to operate using Israeli aircraft and crew. The route had been announced in February with flights scheduled to commence in October. The cancellation represents a significant setback for El Al’s expansion into Southeast Asian markets. The airline has not disclosed specific security concerns but indicated that the barriers to operating the service proved insurmountable. For passengers who purchased tickets for the cancelled route, El Al has offered alternative arrangements on the Arkia airline as a replacement option. The decision underscores the complex security considerations that Israeli aviation authorities must weigh when approving international routes, particularly those involving routes to countries without formal diplomatic relations or security agreements with Israel.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.