Israir Launches Historic First Flight to New York

Israeli airline Israir, owned by businessman Rami Levy, has made history with the successful landing of its inaugural flight from Ben Gurion Airport to New York City. The flight, which arrived at JFK's Terminal 8 between Tuesday and Wednesday, carried Israir CEO Uri Sircus, who addressed passengers upon arrival.

Sircus emphasized Israir's philosophy of providing what customers see, eschewing elaborate displays. He highlighted the company's ambition as the second-largest airline in Israel, stating that being number two necessitates greater hunger, competitiveness, and innovation. He stressed the importance of never taking customers for granted.

The CEO detailed significant investments made by Israir, including millions of dollars in technological infrastructure, the Altea system, and advanced kiosks at Ben Gurion Airport. He also mentioned an ongoing $10 million investment in heavy maintenance infrastructure in Larnaca and the purchase of aircraft totaling $85 million. Sircus also noted the launch of the "Super Fly" credit card.

He particularly praised Israir's human infrastructure, its employees, describing them as professional, smiling, excited, experienced, and committed to passenger safety. Sircus expressed gratitude to the 240 new customers on the inaugural flight, acknowledging that their choice obligates the airline to continuous improvement and competitiveness.

Concluding his remarks, Sircus called the flight a "small historical move" for Israir, marking a beginning rather than an end. He also revealed that Israir began the licensing process for flights to Japan the previous day. The CEO concluded with a traditional Jewish blessing for reaching a significant time.