Two Long-Haul Launches, One Truce in Freefall

Two Israeli carriers have added bookable long-haul nonstops to their winter schedules simultaneously, both launching October 25.

El Al TLV–SFO: Three-weekly service (Sun/Tue/Thu) on 787 Dreamliners fills the void left by United's suspension since October 7, 2023 — El Al remains the only carrier operating the route nonstop. Economy fares start at $1,199 RT; premium economy and business are also on sale. Tickets went live June 1. Combined with TLV–LAX, California now has two El Al nonstop options and the US winter schedule reaches 45 weekly nonstop departures across six gateways.

Arkia TLV–Tokyo: A true first — no Israeli carrier has ever operated to Japan. Two-weekly A330 service (Sun afternoon / Wed night outbound; Mon / Wed return) in two classes: lie-flat business from $2,200 one-way, economy from $750 with one bag included. Previously, the only Israel–Japan options required European or Gulf connections. Both products are commissionable and bookable now.

The April Lebanon ceasefire effectively dissolved over the weekend. Netanyahu ordered Beirut strikes June 1; Trump intervened via a reported expletive-laden call and announced a new partial truce June 2. Attacks continued on both sides after the announcement: sirens sounded in the Galilee panhandle, missiles targeted Tiberias (IDF intercepted two of three) and Nahariya, and an Israeli military physician was killed in a Hezbollah drone strike in southern Lebanon June 1.

The wider risk: Iran's state television warned the US-Iran ceasefire — in place since April — would "very likely" end if Israeli Lebanon operations persist. Iranian negotiators reportedly halted indirect Washington talks June 2; oil rose $6/barrel.

Advisor action: Tel Aviv and Jerusalem remain outside the current engagement zone. Galilee, Golan, and Sea of Galilee segments are in active rocket range — client safety briefings and amendment-policy reviews for northern-heavy itineraries are warranted. If Iran-US talks do not resume, Ben Gurion closure and legacy-carrier suspension risk returns.

• Tiberias and Nahariya struck; Galilee panhandle sirens active June 2
• IDF physician killed in southern Lebanon drone strike June 1
• Iranian negotiators reportedly paused US talks; oil +$6/barrel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem currently outside engagement zone

Two operational changes at Ben Gurion are in effect as of June 2.

New pickup lot: A free designated 60-minute waiting area — searchable in Waze as "one-hour waiting lot – Ben Gurion Airport" — is now live. Roadside waiting remains prohibited and camera-enforced with a NIS 500 fine. Advisors coordinating private transfers or family pickups should update pre-arrival instructions immediately; the lot removes the cost friction that previously pushed drivers onto shoulders.

Terminal 1 still closed: The Israel Airports Authority issued a fresh reminder June 2 that Terminal 1 — historically the departure point for Arkia, Israir, and charter operations — remains temporarily shuttered with no announced reopening date. Advisors ticketing clients on low-cost or charter carriers must verify terminal assignments before issuing travel documents, as all operations are currently consolidated.

The US State Department downgraded Cyprus to Level 1 "Exercise Normal Precautions" effective June 2, returning the island to its pre-conflict baseline. The elevated advisory had been tied to February's US-Iran hostilities, during which a drone struck the British Sovereign Base Area in March.

For advisors, the timing is commercially relevant: Cyprus was the primary emergency diversion point during Ben Gurion closures earlier in 2026, and the elevated advisory had complicated Israel-plus-Cyprus package proposals. The Level 1 restoration removes that advisory caveat, supporting renewed promotion of Cyprus add-ons alongside Israel itineraries and MICE extensions. The State Dept's action signals it views the island's risk environment as normalized for leisure travel.