Airlines Launch New Winter Routes to Crete and Eilat
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Airlines Blue Bird Airways and Air Haifa are introducing new winter routes from Israel. Blue Bird will offer direct flights to Crete starting at 65 euros, aiming for year-round service. Air Haifa will launch flights to Eilat from Ben Gurion Airport on October 25, with fares starting at 79 shekels. These new routes provide more affordable and direct travel options for Israelis during the winter season.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Blue Bird Airways will offer direct winter flights from Israel to Crete starting at 65 euros.
- Air Haifa launches flights from Ben Gurion to Eilat on October 25, with fares from 79 shekels.
- Blue Bird aims to make its Israel-Crete route year-round and offers weekend packages.
- Air Haifa plans to increase its Eilat flights to about three daily round trips in November.
- Additional fees apply for baggage on Air Haifa flights, and cancellations result in travel vouchers.
- Air Haifa will compete with Israir on the Eilat route, which offers subsidized tickets for locals.
Airlines are introducing new winter flight options from Israel to Crete and Eilat. Blue Bird Airways will offer direct winter flights from Israel to Crete for the first time, with one-way tickets starting at 65 euros. Previously, travel to Crete from Israel during winter typically required a layover, often in Athens. Blue Bird, owned by the travel group "Kavei Hofesh," aims to make this route year-round and is also offering weekend tour packages to Crete, including two nights in a five-star hotel, starting at 299 euros per person. These packages focus on city tourism in Heraklion, Crete's largest city, which remains active in winter.
Meanwhile, Air Haifa is launching flights from Ben Gurion Airport to Ramon Airport, near Eilat, starting October 25. Initial one-way fares will be as low as 79 shekels. The airline plans to operate about two daily round-trip flights, increasing to approximately three in November. These flights will use ATR 72-600 aircraft departing from Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion. Additional fees apply for checked baggage and carry-on suitcases, and changes or cancellations are permitted up to 24 hours before departure, resulting in a voucher for future travel.
Air Haifa previously operated the Tel Aviv-Eilat route, with its first commercial flight in September 2024. The airline will compete with Israir on the Eilat route, which has secured a government tender for subsidized flights to Eilat residents at 99 shekels one-way. This relaunch coincides with Air Haifa's second anniversary of commercial operations, during which it has flown approximately 10,000 flights and carried around 600,000 passengers.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Right 1Other 1
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
