Israir Launches Transatlantic Flights to New York

Israeli airline Israir has officially opened ticket sales for its inaugural transatlantic route, with the first flight from Tel Aviv to New York scheduled for September 15 and the return on September 17. This move marks a significant expansion for the carrier into long-haul international travel.

The airline's entry into the long-haul market was facilitated by the acquisition of two Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft for approximately $85 million. These funds covered not only the purchase of the planes but also extensive cabin modernization across business, premium, and economy classes, along with spare parts. Israir also completed a substantial regulatory process in just over three months, securing over 60 agreements and approvals from Israeli and U.S. aviation authorities, including the FAA, and training its flight crews.

Israir plans to further expand its wide-body fleet, intending to lease two additional wide-body aircraft and acquire a third of its own by the second half of 2027. This is in addition to its existing fleet of eight Airbus A320 narrow-body jets.

The launch of Israir's New York service coincides with the return of major international carriers to Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. Delta Air Lines has already resumed flights from the U.S., with United Airlines also returning, while American Airlines plans to restart services by March 2027. Israir will now compete directly with El Al and Arkia on the popular Tel Aviv-New York route.

Looking ahead, Israir is considering further long-haul destinations, including routes to the Far East such as Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, as well as Miami in the United States. Meanwhile, Ben Gurion Airport is experiencing increased international traffic as Wizz Air adds 46 weekly flights, restarts five European routes, and increases frequencies on key existing routes.