El Al cancels flights to Vietnam: what to do with purchased tickets

El Al has canceled its planned flights to Hanoi, Vietnam, due to a lack of security clearances. The announcement came two months before the first scheduled flight. Passengers are offered options: a connection via Bangkok, a change of destination, a full refund, or a voucher. Arkia continues its flights to Vietnam.

El Al announced on Thursday, August 13, the cancellation of its planned flights to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The reason is the lack of permits from Israeli authorities that follow the directives of the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and are responsible for passenger safety. The announcement was made two months before the first flight and six months after ticket sales began. The route was supposed to start in October 2026, and the company had announced its opening in February. El Al explained that the cancellation is not related to an elevated threat level for Israelis in Vietnam, but rather to the impossibility of meeting the security protocol at Hanoi airport. Another Israeli carrier, Arkia, which already operates flights to Hanoi on a chartered aircraft, will continue its operations. El Al claims it received a preliminary approval before announcing the route, but after preparations were completed, the company was notified of the refusal. Passengers can take advantage of a 'flexible change policy': a connection via Bangkok at no extra cost, a change of destination on the same dates, a full refund, or a voucher. Personal notifications to passengers have not yet been sent; the distribution will begin on August 16.