Robbie Klinkenberg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Scandinavian Airlines told DansDeals on September 17, 2026 that it will not launch the planned Copenhagen to Tel Aviv service this winter. SAS said conditions are not right to start the route at this time after a fresh review of operational and commercial factors. The decision removes a planned twice weekly nonstop option for travelers booking winter trips between Scandinavia and Israel.
Travelers holding or planning Copenhagen to Tel Aviv winter bookings should now choose another carrier or routing and recheck any schedule display before paying for hotels. Start with the airline planning hub to compare booking, change, and connection rules before locking a replacement itinerary.
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- Status date: SAS confirmed on September 17, 2026 that the planned Copenhagen to Tel Aviv service will not launch this winter.
- Route affected: Planned Copenhagen to Tel Aviv nonstop service, previously listed as twice weekly in the SAS winter program.
- Who is affected: Travelers planning winter departures between Copenhagen and Tel Aviv, including Scandinavia to Israel connections.
- What to do: Book an alternate airline or routing, confirm the operating carrier on the ticket, and make hotels refundable until flights are firm.
- Background: SAS flew Copenhagen to Tel Aviv from October 26, 2025 to February 28, 2026, then suspended service during the Iran war period.
Copenhagen to Tel Aviv Winter Plan Is Off
SAS had positioned Tel Aviv as one of two new year round routes in its Copenhagen winter program, alongside Vienna. The SAS winter program announcement described Tel Aviv as a twice weekly service built to connect with the wider SAS network across the Nordics, Europe, and intercontinental markets. That plan no longer holds for this winter.
DansDeals reported that SAS had already removed the planned flights from sale before the airline explained the move. The outlet said SAS had planned to resume service on October 25, 2026, after operating the prior winter season. Travelers searching winter dates now see no SAS nonstop to book on the city pair. The practical effect is a narrower set of nonstop choices for the winter schedule.
What SAS Said on September 17
DansDeals said it contacted SAS for comment after spotting the schedule removal. The DansDeals report with the SAS statement quotes the airline saying it concluded after its latest assessment that conditions are not right to launch the planned Copenhagen to Tel Aviv service at this time. SAS added that Tel Aviv remains an important destination and that it will keep monitoring developments.
The wording matters for planning because SAS framed the move as a decision not to launch the planned service now, not as a brief delay with a new start date. The airline named no replacement launch date and no interim frequency. Travelers should therefore treat winter SAS nonstop availability on this route as withdrawn until SAS publishes a new dated commitment.
How the Copenhagen Tel Aviv Schedule Changed
The recent history has three distinct phases that travelers should not mix. SAS originally left Tel Aviv in March 2016 after citing weak profitability and political instability. It then returned with service from October 26, 2025 through February 28, 2026, before suspending operations during the Iran war period. The current decision blocks the expected next phase that would have resumed around October 25, 2026.
The earlier return schedule used Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday departures in each direction, with a midday Copenhagen departure and an evening Tel Aviv return. Those times describe the prior operating season and do not describe bookable winter service now. Use only live airline search results for current options, and confirm that the ticket shows the actual operating carrier rather than a codeshare placeholder.
Connections through Copenhagen remain central to SAS planning for Nordic travelers, but the Tel Aviv leg must now be covered by another airline. Travelers starting in Oslo, Stockholm, Bergen, or Gothenburg can still use SAS into Copenhagen, then connect to a different carrier for Israel. Price the whole journey as one ticket when possible so schedule changes keep protection across both legs.
Rebooking Paths for Winter Israel Trips
Tel Aviv service from Europe and the United States has changed carrier by carrier this month, so replacement choice depends on origin. Delta resumed New York to Tel Aviv flights September 6, which helps United States travelers who can position to New York or connect through a Delta gateway. European travelers should compare El Al, legacy European carriers, and one stop options through hubs with stronger Israel schedules.
Travelers who already held an SAS booking touching the planned Tel Aviv leg should check the reservation directly with SAS or the issuing travel agency. Do not assume an automatic rebooking to a partner without reading the new itinerary. Confirm the new flight numbers, dates, times, and ticket number, and keep screenshots of any schedule change notice until travel is complete.
Hotel timing deserves extra care because winter Israel demand can tighten around holidays and events. Where to stay in Copenhagen helps travelers who still need an overnight near the airport when a replacement routing forces a Copenhagen stop. Keep Copenhagen and Tel Aviv hotels cancellable until every flight leg shows confirmed status.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Planned to fly SAS nonstop Copenhagen to Tel Aviv this winter | Search alternate nonstop or one stop carriers now and do not wait for an SAS relaunch date. |
| Already hold an SAS itinerary touching Tel Aviv | Open the reservation, confirm any SAS schedule change, and accept only a ticketed replacement with flight numbers. |
| Connect through Copenhagen from Scandinavia | Price SAS into Copenhagen plus a separate Israel leg, or keep all legs on one ticket for disruption protection. |
| Can shift departure cities | Compare New York, London, Paris, and Frankfurt Israel departures alongside Copenhagen for better times and fares. |
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Copenhagen Connection Planning After the Cut
Copenhagen Airport still works well as a northern Europe transit point, but the Israel connection now needs a second airline. Leave longer connection time when separate tickets are involved because a late inbound SAS flight will not automatically protect an onward Israel flight on another ticket. A single ticket remains the safer structure when winter weather or airspace disruption threatens the day of travel.
Baggage rules also change when carriers split across tickets. SAS short haul baggage terms do not control the Israel leg when another airline operates it. Read both carriers for checked bag fees, carry on size, and connection recheck needs before packing. Travelers with tight layovers should pack essentials in carry on in case checked bags need reclaim and recheck at Copenhagen.
September 17, 2026 is the decision gate. After the SAS statement, stop planning around an SAS Copenhagen to Tel Aviv nonstop for this winter and shop replacement carriers.
October 25, 2026 was the expected resume point. DansDeals reported this as the prior planned return date, but SAS has now withdrawn the launch with no new date.
Booking day is the protection gate. Buy refundable hotels, confirm operating carriers, and keep itineraries on one ticket where possible until flights are ticketed and stable.
Is SAS flying Copenhagen to Tel Aviv this winter?
No. SAS said on September 17, 2026 that it will not launch the planned Copenhagen to Tel Aviv service this winter after reviewing operational and commercial factors.
Did SAS fly this route before?
Yes. SAS flew Copenhagen to Tel Aviv from October 26, 2025 to February 28, 2026, then suspended service during the Iran war period, according to the DansDeals timeline.
What should booked travelers do now?
Check the SAS reservation for a schedule change, confirm any replacement flight numbers and ticket number, and switch to another carrier if the Tel Aviv leg is gone.
Which alternates work best for Tel Aviv?
Compare El Al and other carriers serving Tel Aviv from your origin, plus one stop routings through major hubs, and keep hotels refundable until flights are firm.
