Originally Posted by
intuition
Even northern Asia, like NRT, going via HEL is 10% longer than via IST. It is a geographically significant disadvantage AY wouldn't want to compete with.
You probably need something like this route to avoid 'hostile territories'.
Very funny. Hostile territories might not be an issue in your country, but they are so in the Middle East. Again for those preferring OW, AY could be a choice if the schedule was better.
I honestly don't understand why AY does have convenient schedules for some (if not all) purely leisure destinations, but fails to have the same to/from TLV which is one of the most important business centers in the Middle East.