Israir set for New York-Tel Aviv route amid regional challenges

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev commented, "This is an important step to strengthen competition, lower prices, improve service, and expand options for the public."

This marks a return for Israir after suspending its New York route in 2008 due to economic reasons. Currently, El Al operates 52 weekly flights from Tel Aviv to various U.S. destinations while Arkia offers five weekly flights to New York.

Arkia began flying with an A330-900 wet-leased from Iberojet but now uses an A330-200 from Bulgaria’s GullivAir.

U.S. carriers have had irregular operations since October 2023 due to regional instability but United Airlines will return on July 21 with two daily flights from Newark using Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

Delta Air Lines resumed its Tel Aviv-New York-JFK route on April 1 but suspended it multiple times since then. American Airlines halted its Tel Aviv services in October 2023 and has yet to resume them.