New Ben Gurion‑Ramon route starts on 25 October: what the fare to Eilat includes

Air Haifa has opened ticket sales for a route between Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport, expected to start operating on 25 October 2026. According to the company's announcement as reported on 11 October, it will initially offer two flights a day in each direction. The introductory fare starts at NIS 79 one way, subject to availability, and does not automatically include a cabin suitcase or checked bag.

For Eilat residents and visitors, this adds another way to travel between southern and central Israel. Despite the airline's name, the new route does not depart from Haifa: its starting point is Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport. Arriving at Ramon also requires planning the onward journey into the city, so the ticket price is only part of the comparison.

The start date is set; November's expansion remains a plan

According to Globes' report on the opening of sales, the airline plans to increase frequency to three daily flights in each direction during November. This is a planned phase, not a reason to assume every time or date is already available in the booking system. For now, travelers need to choose from the schedule actually offered.

Local reporting in Eilat said the flights would operate from Terminal 1 and take about an hour. Time in the air is not total travel time: allow for reaching the airport, departure procedures and the journey from Ramon. For someone choosing between alternatives, the right comparison begins at home and ends at the destination, not at the boarding gate.

For an Eilat resident traveling to a meeting in central Israel, the return flight time may matter more than a small fare difference. For a family arriving on vacation, the fit with hotel check‑in and the onward journey can change the choice. Check both directions before deciding that the first cheap ticket solves the trip.

NIS 79 is not necessarily the price with your bag

The introductory fare includes a personal handbag or backpack. According to the launch report, adding a cabin suitcase starts at NIS 49 and adding a checked bag at NIS 77. These are starting prices, not a promise of the same amount for every booking or date.

For illustration only, if the ticket and cabin suitcase are available at the published starting prices, they total NIS 128 one way. A ticket and checked bag on the same terms total NIS 156. These are calculations of two components, not a quote for a specific booking, and they exclude other expenses such as reaching the airport or paying to select a seat.

Compare the same basket: similar passenger numbers, dates and baggage for each option. Comparing a ticket with a personal bag against one that includes a checked bag does not, by itself, tell you which is cheaper. Someone traveling with a small bag and someone taking a week's worth of equipment face two different choices.

The airline describes the amount as an introductory fare. That does not commit it to a fixed price throughout the winter, and there is no verified promotion end date on which to base plans. Check the binding price and baggage dimensions on the booking screen and in the terms applying to the ticket before paying.

Changes are possible, but credit is not a card refund

Under the Flex ticket terms published by Air Haifa, the date can be changed up to 24 hours before the flight without a change fee, but any fare difference must be paid if the new flight costs more. Cancellation under the flexible option, up to 24 hours before the first flight in the booking, provides airline credit valid for two years from the cancellation date.

The distinction between credit and money returned to an account matters especially to anyone unsure whether they will fly with the airline again. Flexible cancellation does not make the ticket a purchase that can be canceled at any stage for a cash refund. The airline also publishes a separate statutory cancellation policy; those rights depend on the transaction and cancellation conditions.

Another exception in the airline's terms concerns bookings made with a coupon: their dates cannot be changed, although they can be canceled under the terms for credit toward a new booking. Check not just the ticket's name, but whether the discount you chose changes its flexibility.

Ramon is outside Eilat

According to the Israel Airports Authority, Ramon Airport is about 19 kilometers north of Eilat, with access from Route 90 opposite Be'er Ora. Travelers can continue into the city by car, public transport or taxi. Egged operates routes between the airport and Eilat at the price of an urban journey, according to information published by the authority.

This does not mean every route leaves immediately after every landing or serves every hotel. Check the timetable and the stop appropriate to your destination address. The Israel Airports Authority directs passengers to Egged's current information and notes that accessible bus service requires advance coordination.

Taxi fares are metered in accordance with the price control order, according to the authority. The total expense calculation therefore needs to include this leg too. A couple continuing by bus and a family taking a taxi may reach different conclusions from the same airfare.

How to decide whether the route suits your next trip

Start with times and addresses, add the baggage you need and only then compare prices. During booking, make sure you have selected the Ben Gurion‑Ramon route rather than the existing Haifa‑Eilat route. Keeping the booking confirmation and ticket terms is just as important as remembering the departure time.

The new route adds choice, but does not guarantee that flying will always be the cheapest or quickest alternative for every traveler. Its value depends on the timetable, the journeys to and from the airports, and what the particular ticket includes. Checking all of these beforehand lets travelers use the introductory fare as a starting point for comparison instead of treating it as the final cost of reaching Eilat.