Air Haifa Aims for 50% Growth by 2027 Amid Expansion Plans
Air Haifa, a regional airline aiming to activate Haifa's underutilized airport, anticipates handling over 400,000 passengers this year, more than double its previous peak year. The company, founded nearly two years ago, has seen significant demand, with an estimated 65% of its passengers originating from the northern regions of Israel. Miki Strasberg, a co-founder, highlighted the airport's strategic value as a hub for three million people.
Strasberg attributes the high demand to several factors, including frequent flights to Cyprus, efficient airport processes, and a flexible booking policy allowing changes or cancellations up to 24 hours before departure. The airline emphasizes a simplified booking experience and operational precision, aiming to minimize flight delays, which are known to significantly impact customer satisfaction.
Air Haifa has also innovated in customer service by opting against a traditional call center, relying instead on a simple product, self-service options online, and AI-assisted WhatsApp support. This model is intended to reduce operational costs, which would otherwise be passed on to ticket prices.
The company plans to expand its fleet by adding two more ATR aircraft, which will also serve routes from Ben Gurion and Ramon airports. By summer 2027, Air Haifa aims to increase flight frequency to Cyprus, offering hourly departures to Larnaca and similar service to Paphos. A new route to Thessaloniki is also scheduled to launch in late October.
However, current infrastructure limitations at Haifa airport, including a short runway and restricted operating hours, constrain the types of aircraft and destinations served. Strasberg estimates that without these limitations and with extended operating hours, passenger numbers could have approached half a million this year. The company is collaborating with the Airport Authority and Haifa Municipality to extend the runway and expand the terminal, which could enable flights to Western Europe and potentially Dubai in the future, projecting a 30-50% growth in operations from Haifa by 2027.
