Tal Aviation, an influential global leader in airline representation based in Israel, has seen a surge in requests for assistance from airlines in India, Asia, and the CIS countries. These airlines seek help in establishing the necessary services to commence flights to Israel.
The numbers speak for themselves, with the requests from India being particularly notable. India, being the most populous country in the world with 1.353 billion people, presents immense potential for travel and tourism between the two countries, despite Israel’s relatively smaller population of just over 8.7 million.
India’s potential for growth is evident, with only around 7.2% (approximately 96 million) of its citizens currently holding valid passports. Interestingly, Kerala boasts the highest number of passport holders among all Indian states.
The interest in travel to India from Israel intensified when the Israeli Consulate General in Mumbai signed a letter of intent with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to establish a “Jewish route” in the state. This initiative led to an increased influx of Israeli tourists exploring Mumbai and visiting important Jewish monuments in Maharashtra.
The attraction for tourists from Israel extends to various destinations on the Indian subcontinent, including the enchanting state of Kerala, often referred to as “God’s own country.”
Simultaneously, millions of Indian travelers are expressing interest in visiting the Holy Land, and there is enormous potential for expanding cargo trade between Israel and India.
With Saudi Arabia permitting airlines like El Al to overfly the kingdom for flights to and from Israel, travel time and direct or one-stop services have become more feasible, fostering opportunities for growth in this air route.
El Al, Israel’s national carrier, resumed flights to India after a three-year hiatus, citing the shorter flight times made possible by flying over Saudi Arabia and Oman. This development reduced the non-stop flight time between Tel Aviv and Mumbai to 5.5 hours from the previous 7.5 hours, and flights to Delhi now take only 6.5 hours instead of the previous 9.
The positive impact of this change extends not only to flights to India but also to East Asia, benefiting both the Israeli and Indian aviation industries. Indian destinations like Goa and Cochin are eager to enhance connectivity with Israel, and Indian airlines are actively exploring opportunities to serve this lucrative and rapidly emerging market, according to Gideon Thaler, the CEO of TAL Aviation.
The new air corridor and the announcement of an open-skies policy by Riyadh may signify a more liberal approach from Saudi Arabia, opening doors for the development of Riyadh Air, aiming to become the largest airline in the region. This decision is expected to foster growth in the aviation sector and encourage more airlines to expand their operations and venture into the Israeli market, as emphasized by Sammy Yahia from the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Gideon Thaler also noted that India’s airlines will be able to offer more competitive prices and reduce flying time to a 5-hour direct flight, which will significantly ease air travel for passengers.
