Israir Launches New York Flights, Intensifying Competition

Israir has begun selling tickets for its new direct flights between Israel and New York, marking the airline's entry into long-haul international routes. The inaugural flight from Tel Aviv to New York is scheduled for September 15, with the return flight from New York to Israel set for September 17. Both flights will operate to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Initially, the service will utilize two Airbus A330 aircraft recently acquired by Israir for approximately $85 million, a deal that includes related equipment, spare parts, and modifications. The airline has completed necessary operational and regulatory steps to transition from its primary focus on short and medium-haul flights to offering transatlantic services. Israir plans to operate the route with a three-class service product.

In addition to its own aircraft, Israir is preparing to use wide-body aircraft on a wet lease basis and intends to expand its owned A330 fleet in the future. This expansion into the U.S. market comes amid heightened competition. Delta resumed its daily New York-Tel Aviv service on September 6 with Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, and United is set to return on September 8 with two daily flights from Newark.

With El Al and Arkia already operating direct flights to New York, the market will soon see five airlines competing on the direct Israel-New York route. This increased capacity is expected to drive competition on price, frequency, and service quality, offering passengers more options after a period of limited direct flights to the U.S. due to security concerns and the withdrawal of foreign carriers. If the security situation remains stable, competition on this route could become particularly intense. For Israir, this represents a significant test of its long-haul capabilities, while passengers stand to benefit from more choices and potentially lower fares.