Israir Launches New York Flights in September, Ticket Sales Begin Tonight
Israeli airline Israir will open ticket sales tonight for its new route to New York, with the inaugural flight from Tel Aviv scheduled for September 15. The first flight from New York to Israel is set for September 17. The route will be operated using two Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft recently acquired and prepared by the company.
This launch follows several adjustments to the planned start date. Initially, Israir announced in May its intention to begin flights to New York in the third quarter of 2026. By July, following the arrival of the first A330 in Israel, the company estimated an early August launch. The current September 15 date marks the final decision.
Israir completed the purchase of the two A330 aircraft on May 27, investing approximately $85 million, which includes service modifications and spare parts. These aircraft, featuring business, premium, and economy classes, enable Israir to expand into long-haul flights. The company reported that operational and regulatory preparations for the route, including over 60 agreements and necessary approvals from Israeli and U.S. aviation authorities, were completed in about three and a half months. Dedicated flight crews for the A330s have also been trained.
The two owned A330s will operate alongside Israir's existing fleet of eight narrow-body Airbus A320s. The airline plans a phased introduction of the A330s into service. Additionally, Israir intends to lease two more wide-body aircraft and plans to acquire a third A330 for self-operation in the latter half of 2027.
The new route intensifies competition on flights between Israel and the U.S. Delta Air Lines recently resumed its New York-Tel Aviv service, while United Airlines is set to restart its Newark-Tel Aviv flights on September 8. American Airlines has postponed its return to Israel until March 2027. With this launch, Israir joins El Al and Arkia, which already offer direct flights to New York. This route is part of Israir's broader strategy to expand its long-haul operations, with potential future destinations including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Miami.
