EL Al is to resume direct flights from Manchester to Israel in 2019.

Thousands of travellers are expected to take up the service.

El Al announced the direct routes at the World Travel Market in London.

The service will be available three times a week from May 26 next year.

Flights will take place on a Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

The decision comes on the back of the demise of Monarch Airlines last year.

El Al’s Michael Strassburger made the welcome announcement at the opening of Israel’s Government Tourist Office zone.

“We’re going to make Israel even closer,” he said.

“We have great anticipation that thousands of British tourists will use this new service.”

Israel Ambassador, Mark Regev, was on hand to officially cut a ribbon on the stand.

Record numbers of British tourists visited Israel in 2017 with increased figures set for 2018.

“It’s a really exciting time for British people to visit Israel,” he said.

“I expect more and more people to visit – it’s good for the British and good for Israel.”