Flight costs drop as much as 26% as early bookings surge

After two years of uncertainty and final‑minute planning, journey for Passover 2026 is shaping up very otherwise. Skies are open, flight availability has elevated, and tourism knowledge present important value drops for abroad holidays. Industry checks point out that airfare and trip package deal costs for Passover have fallen by as much as 26% in contrast with final 12 months, and hottest locations are seeing reductions alongside a transparent return of Israelis to early reserving patterns.

One of the primary components driving cheaper abroad holidays this 12 months is the change charge. As of early 2026, the U.S. greenback has been buying and selling round 3.2 shekels, down from about 3.65 shekels on the similar time final 12 months — a drop of roughly 13%. Because many flight, lodge and package deal costs are quoted in overseas forex, a stronger shekel straight interprets into decrease closing costs for Israeli customers, even when base prices haven’t modified dramatically.

According to knowledge from the Gulliver journey web site, 9 out of the ten hottest Passover flight locations this 12 months have seen value declines in contrast with Passover 2025. Vacation packages are also cheaper in most places. Gulliver notes that, because the finish of the struggle, most airways have resumed exercise in Israel, creating higher provide, elevated competitors and extra inexpensive choices for customers.

The firm additionally stories a transparent return to early bookings: the share of reservations made properly upfront is thrice larger than final 12 months. Gulliver attributes this to a mixture of decrease costs, broader availability and a heightened sense of confidence that enables Israelis to plan holidays far forward.

Gulliver’s knowledge present the ten most sought‑after Passover flight locations are: Dubai, Budapest, Tbilisi, Prague, Bangkok, Bucharest, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Rome, Miami and Larnaca.

Three international locations — Thailand, Sri Lanka and the United States — are lengthy‑haul locations, reflecting an growing willingness amongst Israelis to take longer holidays and use the vacation for extra distant journey. About 9% of flight bookings went to Dubai, an identical share to Budapest, whereas the three far locations collectively accounted for about 15% of complete flight bookings.

Price drops have been recorded for all three far‑flung locations in contrast with final 12 months, aided by the change‑charge impact. The largest lower was in Budapest, with costs about 26% decrease than Passover 2025. The solely prime‑10 vacation spot that noticed a value enhance was Tbilisi, up round 19%.

The hottest locations for Passover trip packages are: Crete, Paphos, Batumi, Berlin, Baku, Budapest, Prague, Dubai, Rhodes and London.

Crete leads with roughly 15% of all bookings. Gulliver additionally highlights a surge in demand for Baku, which has climbed to fifth place with about 11% of bookings — notable on condition that no packages have been bought to that vacation spot for Passover 2025. In different locations that bought packages each this 12 months and final, costs have fallen between 4% and seven%.

Tamar Garzon, CEO of Gullver, says Passover 2026 displays a shift in Israeli journey habits, with a return to early planning, choice for pleasant locations and utilizing the vacation for longer journeys — developments typical earlier than the struggle.

“We’re seeing that vacation package prices during Chol Hamoed are generally lower compared with those around Seder night,” Garzon stated. “And anyone who can return from vacation a day or two after children go back to school will enjoy even better prices. This is an important consideration for travelers who want to reduce costs without giving up a holiday.”

Other tourism firms report related patterns. Shirley Cohen‑Orkaby, VP at Eshet Tours, says Passover demand this 12 months is exceptionally robust, partly as a result of the favorable change charge encourages early reservations. According to her, close by locations drawing robust curiosity embody Greece, Albania, Georgia, Dubai and Azerbaijan, whereas lengthy‑haul demand is noticeably rising for the U.S., Thailand and Vietnam.

“We are seeing very strong demand for Passover vacations, partly due to the low dollar rate encouraging early package sales at a higher pace than usual,” Cohen‑Orkaby stated. “This year, since the holiday begins on Wednesday evening, there’s a great opportunity for a bridge of free days — ideal for longer trips.”

Yoni Waksman. C.I.O & vice chairman at Ophir Tours, provides: “For the upcoming Passover, there is high demand even for city destinations, especially in Eastern Europe.” He notes that cities like Budapest, Sofia and Bucharest supply a mixture of excessive‑high quality accommodations, wealthy city experiences and good worth, making them standard vacation selections.

Aviation Links VP Nir Mazor, VP of Aviation Relations, informed ynet that “the peak booking period for Passover is already in full swing, especially for long‑haul destinations like the U.S., Thailand, Vietnam and even Zanzibar and the Seychelles, where planning begins very early and airfare prices are expected to rise later.” For different locations, he stated demand is especially robust for the UAE, particularly Dubai, the place climate over Passover is anticipated to be supreme for a sunny getaway. Alongside these, main European capitals like Athens, Prague, Budapest, Rome and Paris are main in demand.

A value examine performed at Gulliver forward of the upcoming Passover, for the dates March 31–April 4, April 1–5, and April 5–9, exhibits that almost all demand is concentrated within the days after the Seder. Prices are for a household of 4 (two adults and two youngsters

Batumi: 5-star Euphoria lodge + flights with Israir — $769 per particular person

Paphos: 4-star Avlida lodge half‑board + flights with Israir — $618 per particular person

Dubai: 4-star Grand Excelsior Hotel Deira with breakfast + flydubai flights — $946 per particular person

Batumi: 4-star Season Suite Apart lodge + El Al flights — $810 per particular person

Paphos:4-star Avlida lodge with breakfast + Israir flights — $512 per particular person

Dubai: 5-star JW Marriott Marquis lodge with breakfast + Arkia flights — $1,357 per particular person

April 5–9 (Chol Hamoed):

Batumi: 5-star Euphoria lodge half‑board + El Al flights — $627 per particular person

Paphos: 4-star Avlida lodge with breakfast + Israir flights — $502 per particular person

Dubai: 5-star V Hotel with breakfast + flydubai flights — $993 per particular person

Bucharest: Flight + checked bag + 3 nights at 4-star International Hotel Bucharest City Center with breakfast — from €683 per particular person (April 2–5)

Sofia: Flight + bag + 3 nights at 5-star ANEL lodge with breakfast — from €570 per particular person

Budapest: Flight + bag + 3 nights at 4-star City Inn with breakfast — from €695 per particular person

Athens: 3 nights (April 2–5) at 4-star Brown Acropol lodge — from €524 per particular person

Batumi: 4 nights (April 5–9) at 5-star JRW Welmond Hotel & Casino — from $799 per particular person

Baku: 4 nights (April 2–6) at 5-star Sea Pearl Hotel — from $799 per particular person

Tirana: 4 nights (April 5–9) at 4-star Doro City — from $840 per particular person

New York – (April 3-10), beginning at $1,399, with British Airways

Long‑haul flight packages (Passover):

Thailand (Etihad): March 30–April 14 (15 nights) with cease in Abu Dhabi, together with 7kg hand baggage — from $1,899 per particular person

Thailand (El Al): March 30–April 14 direct, together with 2 checked luggage + 4kg hand baggage — from $2,619 per particular person

Miami (American): March 29–April 11 (13 nights) with cease in New York, together with 23kg checked bag — from $1,689 per particular person

Miami (El Al): March 29–April 11 direct, together with 23kg checked bag + 4kg hand baggage — from $3,429 per particular person

The Flying Carpet Company additionally provides Passover trip packages at all-inclusive costs, appropriate for households:

Crete: 3‑evening all‑inclusive package deal (4-star Mediterraneo lodge) contains flights, baggage, lodge and transfers — $2,236 for a household of 4 (~$559 per particular person)

Rhodes: 3‑evening all‑inclusive (4-star Avita Sun lodge) — $2,156 for a household of 4 (~$539 per particular person)