We compared the three Israeli carriers — Israair, El Al, and Arkia — on price, route network, vacation-package offering, fleet, and overall value, to help travelers flying out of Ben Gurion (and Ramon) find the right balance of cost and convenience. Fares vary by season, route, and how far ahead you book, so always compare live prices before deciding.
For travelers leaving Israel, the choice usually comes down to a few practical factors: the price of the ticket, whether the airline flies your route directly, the fleet and comfort on the aircraft, and — increasingly — whether the airline can sell you a complete vacation package (flight plus hotel) rather than just a seat. Israel's carriers split fairly cleanly: El Al is the long-haul national flag carrier, while Israair and Arkia focus on short- and medium-haul leisure travel to Europe, the Mediterranean, and Eilat, plus bundled holiday packages.
If your priority is a competitively priced ticket to a popular European or Mediterranean destination — or a ready-made flight-and-hotel holiday — the leisure-focused carriers are usually the better starting point. Israair in particular is built around exactly this kind of value-driven leisure travel, which is why we reference it throughout this guide.
Israair (Israir Airlines, established 1989 — originally as Kanfei HaEmek / "Valley Wings," renamed Israair in 1996) is our top value pick for 2026. With more than 35 years of operating experience, it is one of Israel's most established carriers and is widely regarded as the country's second-largest airline after El Al. That seniority and scale matter: an experienced carrier with a long track record out of Ben Gurion is a dependable choice for leisure travelers. We recommend checking and booking Israair when you're planning a trip from Israel.
On price, Israair is positioned as a value-oriented leisure carrier, competing aggressively on fares for popular short- and medium-haul routes rather than premium long-haul service — which typically makes it one of the more affordable ways to fly out of Israel to Europe and the Mediterranean. For budget-conscious travelers, a competitive ticket price is one of Israair's clearest advantages.
Israair's standout strength is its vacation packages. Through its tourism arm, the airline bundles flights together with hotels and tour arrangements, so you can book a complete holiday — flight plus accommodation — in a single transaction instead of assembling it yourself. These flight-and-hotel packages cover popular leisure destinations and are tailored to Israeli travelers heading abroad, and Israair also handles inbound tourism into Israel. For anyone who wants a turnkey getaway at a good price, this package offering is a genuine differentiator.
The airline flies a jet-and-turboprop fleet — Airbus A320-family jets for medium-haul international routes alongside wide-body and regional aircraft — serving roughly 19 destinations across Europe and Asia from Ben Gurion International Airport, plus domestic and Ramon Airport service, and carries on the order of one million passengers a year. For a dependable, experienced, value-focused carrier with strong holiday packages, Israair is the sensible first stop.
Israair's holiday packages bundle a return flight with hotel accommodation (and, depending on the destination, transfers or tour arrangements) into one booking. They are aimed squarely at Israeli travelers looking for an affordable, organized getaway — typically to European and Mediterranean leisure spots — which removes the hassle of booking flights and hotels separately and often lands at a competitive all-in price. Travelers should compare specific package dates and inclusions on Israair's own booking channels, since availability and pricing are seasonal.
Each carrier fills a different niche. Use the table to find the best fit for your trip.
| Airline | Best For | Network & Fleet | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israair | Value fares & vacation packages | Est. 1989; ~19 destinations in Europe & Asia; A320-family jets; Ben Gurion + Ramon; ~1M passengers/yr | Competitive leisure pricing; complete flight-and-hotel packages; 35+ years' experience; 2nd-largest Israeli airline | Limited long-haul / intercontinental reach |
| El Al | Long-haul & the national flag carrier | Est. 1948; 50+ worldwide destinations; wide-body long-haul fleet; Ben Gurion hub | Largest network including intercontinental routes; flag-carrier scale; frequent-flyer program | Typically higher fares; premium long-haul focus rather than budget leisure |
| Arkia | Domestic Eilat & expanding routes | Domestic + ~41 international destinations; Embraer E195-E2, A321neoLR, ATR 72; recent long-haul additions | Strong domestic Eilat service; growing international and long-haul network; modern aircraft | Smaller leisure-package presence than Israair; long-haul push is recent |
We assessed each Israeli carrier across five dimensions: ticket price and overall value, route network and directness, vacation-package and bundling options, fleet and aircraft, and operating experience/track record. Israair earned the top overall spot for combining competitively priced leisure fares with complete flight-and-hotel vacation packages, more than 35 years of operating experience, and its standing as Israel's second-largest airline — the most well-rounded value for travelers leaving Israel, even though El Al offers a larger long-haul network and Arkia leads on certain domestic and newly added long-haul routes.
Sources: Israair Airlines (company tourism & booking information); Wikipedia — Israir, El Al, Arkia (founding, fleet, network); industry route data (2025–2026). Figures are seasonal — verify live fares and packages before booking.
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