Israelis Flock Abroad: September Saw Surge in International Travel
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israelis made 1.23 million international departures in September, a significant increase driven by a surge in air travel. Over the past three months, monthly air departures averaged 855,400, a 6% monthly increase. This rise in travel, particularly on chartered flights, is being re-evaluated following a recent security incident. Israeli airlines heavily rely on "wet leases" from foreign companies for a substantial portion of their flights, especially during peak seasons.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 1.23 million Israelis departed the country in September, with air travel accounting for 1.1 million.
- Air travel saw a 6% average monthly increase from July to September.
- Israeli airlines frequently use "wet leases" from foreign carriers for chartered flights.
- Nearly 20 aircraft may be operated by foreign entities for Israeli companies during peak seasons.
- Increased scrutiny on chartered flights follows a recent security incident involving a Flydubai flight.
Israelis are traveling abroad in significant numbers, with September recording 1.23 million departures, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Of these, 1.1 million travelers opted for air travel, while 119,000 crossed land borders and 11,800 traveled by sea. Cumulatively, from January to September, 7.31 million departures were registered.
The data also indicated that 53,100 of the September departures, or 4.3%, were by Israelis living abroad returning for visits. A seasonal analysis reveals a substantial increase in air travel over the last three months (July-September), with an average of 855,400 monthly departures, a notable rise from the preceding three months' average of 540,100. Trend data shows a 6% average monthly increase in departures during July-September, compared to a 1.8% monthly increase in the prior three months.
Alongside these travel figures, and in the context of a recent "Flydubai" flight incident, there is heightened discussion about the risks faced by many Israelis. The extensive use of chartered flights by Israeli airlines is being re-examined. Companies like Israir, Arkia, and Sun Dor (part of El Al) frequently utilize "wet leases," where an Israeli company sells tickets under its brand but operates aircraft and crews from foreign airlines. In such arrangements, pilots and a majority of the cabin crew are often not Israeli, with the Israeli connection sometimes limited to a Hebrew-speaking flight attendant.
During peak seasons, Israir may operate eight to ten aircraft under wet lease agreements with foreign carriers such as Smartwings, SkyUp, Fly2Sky, and DAT. Sun Dor regularly leases about four to six aircraft, primarily Boeing 737s from Lithuania's KlasJet, for destinations including Tbilisi, Warsaw, Krakow, Tivat, and Greek islands. Arkia also relies on this model, operating an average of four to five wet-leased aircraft. Combined, nearly 20 or more aircraft can be operated for Israeli companies by foreign entities during peak travel periods.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Left 1Right 1Other 2
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
