Israir Receives Approval to Operate Airbus A330s for Long-Haul Flights to Asia and US

Israir has taken a significant regulatory step toward launching long-haul flights by receiving operational specifications approval from the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority to operate its newly acquired Airbus A330 aircraft. This approval allows Israir to commercially operate the wide-body planes with its own flight and maintenance crews on international routes. The airline completed crew and ground staff training ahead of this certification, officially integrating the A330s into its fleet.

The first A330 arrived in Israel in June as part of a $85 million deal for two wide-body aircraft, marking the first of their kind in Israir's fleet. These planes feature three service classes: business, premium, and economy. Israir plans to expand its long-haul network, aiming to launch flights to New York soon and later extend services to destinations in East Asia.

Specifically, Israir intends to submit applications for routes to Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong, while continuing the certification process required to operate flights to the United States. The operational specifications approval is a crucial regulatory milestone that defines the types of aircraft the airline can operate and the conditions under which they may be used commercially.

This development signals Israir's strategic move into the long-haul market, expanding beyond its traditional short- and medium-haul operations and positioning itself for growth in international travel sectors.