With the conclusion of Operation Rising Lion, the number of Israelis flying abroad has doubled — according to data from the travel insurance company PassportCard, based on purchases of travel insurance through the company.
According to the PassportCard Index, the number of overseas trips booked during the first week of the summer break was twice the weekly average since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron war on October 7, 2023, and 30% higher compared to the same period during last year’s summer break.
In addition, the return of several foreign airlines has brought the number of travelers abroad since the beginning of the year to an estimated 80% of the level seen during the same period in 2023, before the Swords of Iron war.
A breakdown of the data shows that Greece tops the list of destinations, with one in every six Israelis flying there on average. Cyprus and Thailand rank second and third, with about 8% of travelers from Israel flying to each of those destinations. Right behind them is the United States, which has doubled its share of Israeli travelers compared to the summer break of 2023 — thanks to the addition of more direct flights by Israeli airlines, the expected return of some American carriers, and the recent removal of the visa requirement for Israelis.
Following in the rankings are: Italy, Georgia, Spain, Austria, Germany, and Bulgaria. Turkey and Egypt, which had been among the top ten destinations until October 2023, are now off the list. On the other hand, Germany has entered the top ten list of most visited countries by Israelis during the summer break for the first time.
“With the end of Operation Rising Lion and the start of the summer break, the Israeli public is signaling loud and clear — we’re flying abroad again,” said PassportCard CEO Ronit Segal. “Even in the months leading up to the war with Iran, we saw a clear trend of returning to travel routines, and now, with a renewed sense of stability, we’re seeing the sharpest increase in the number of travelers since the war began. Destination choices are focused on countries with frequent flights and a clear sense of security, and in our estimation, with the full return of international airlines to Israel, a new record will be set for the number of Israelis flying abroad.”