Israir to Launch Ticket Sales for New Tel Aviv-New York Route Starting Next Week

Israir announced it will begin selling tickets next Tuesday for its new direct flight route from Tel Aviv to New York, following approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The airline plans to commence flights on October 19, 2026, pending final certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Initially, Israir hoped to launch the route this summer, capitalizing on the absence of American carriers, as Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia saw record sales on U.S. routes. However, Delta and United Airlines are expected to resume flights to Israel in early September, intensifying competition on the route. Despite this, Israir aims to offer competitive prices, promising "surprising" fares for Israeli consumers. Israir received its foreign air carrier permit from the DOT in July 2025, contingent on meeting FAA, TSA, and other regulatory requirements. The airline has already acquired a wide-body aircraft and trained crews but set a conservative launch date to avoid selling tickets before final approvals. Israir stated it would advance the launch date if earlier FAA clearance is granted.