Israeli flag carrier El Al is returning to South America with the launch of direct flights to the Argentine capital, marking a significant expansion of its long-haul network and closer ties between the two countries.
The announcement was timed with Argentine President Javier Milei's visit to Israel for Independence Day events. During meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leaders signed a series of cooperation agreements on security, technology and combating antisemitism, referred to in some reports as the Isaac Accords. The new air link forms a key part of this diplomatic push.
El Al will operate the route from its Tel Aviv Ben Gurion base to Buenos Aires Ezeiza twice per week using Boeing 787 aircraft configured with business, premium economy and economy cabins. Flights are expected to begin in November 2026, although this is subject to formal regulatory clearances from both sides. Ticket sales are scheduled to open during May.
With a distance of approximately 12,200 kilometers, this will become the airline's longest scheduled service. Eastbound sectors are anticipated to take around 16.5 hours while westbound returns will be slightly shorter at 15.5 hours. Aircraft will follow a routing via the Mediterranean, Morocco and the Atlantic to avoid certain airspaces for operational and security reasons.
The development carries particular importance for Argentina's Jewish community, the largest in Latin America. For years, travelers from this group have had to rely on connections in Europe or North America to reach Israel. El Al described the new service as addressing a longstanding gap in direct connectivity.
This marks the carrier's return to regular South American operations more than ten years after it discontinued flights to Sao Paulo in 2011, a decision driven by high fuel costs and challenging economics at the time. The airline has maintained some presence in the region through codeshare partnerships, including with AerolÃneas Argentinas, which will be extended to cover the new nonstop service and provide onward connections across the continent.
The Israeli government has committed financial support for the route after a competitive tender process. Subsidies totaling tens of millions of shekels are intended to help offset the high operating costs of such an ultra-long-haul flight during an initial testing period of roughly one year with two weekly frequencies. Officials hope the service will prove sustainable and grow demand for travel, trade and tourism between the nations.
Industry analysts note that while commercial considerations are important, the route also carries clear political and cultural weight given the warm relations between the Milei administration and Israel. Past attempts at direct Israel-Argentina links faced hurdles, but improved diplomatic alignment appears to have provided fresh momentum.
For El Al, the addition expands its footprint in a market with strong historical and demographic links while leveraging its growing fleet of efficient widebody Dreamliners. The carrier has been gradually rebuilding its network following the challenges of recent years.
Passengers can expect the new flights to significantly reduce total travel times compared with one-stop itineraries via major European or U.S. gateways. The service is also likely to appeal to business travelers, members of the Jewish diaspora, and tourists interested in the cultural connections between the countries.
While full schedules and fares have yet to be released, the announcement has been welcomed by community leaders and travel industry stakeholders on both ends of the route. It represents a concrete outcome of high-level diplomatic engagement and could pave the way for further aviation cooperation in the future.