Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK A New Israeli airline is about to launch. Following Air Haifa this year, another new Israeli airline will enter the market.
Ami Cohen and Arnon Englender, the owners of "Holiday Lines" (Kavei Hufsha) company that owns the Greek airline Blue Bird Airways and the Cypriot airline TUS, have decided that this is the right time for them to establish a new Israeli airline, as first reported by Passport News.
The company has already begun discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel and intends to initiate the licensing process to operate as an Israeli airline.
The two companies, which are planned to continue operations as they are, currently have a combined fleet of seven aircraft, meaning the company will become a competitor for EL AL, Israir, Arkia Airlines, and Air Haifa, which only recently entered the market.
Parent company "Kavei Hufsha" will keep both airlines under TUS & Blue Bird brands alongside the new company.
"Holiday Lines" commented on the move: "Blue Bird and TUS will continue to operate alongside our intention to establish a new Israeli airline".
Blue Bird flew 525,452 passengers to and from Israel last year, totaling 3.78% of Ben Gurion Airport's passengers, and TUS flew 202,435 passengers, making up 1.45% of all travelers at Ben Gurion.
Together, the two companies flew 727,887 passengers, placing them fourth in activity volume at Ben Gurion Airport if operated as one company.
It should be noted that the war caused both companies to halt flights to Israel for part of the time.
The entry of another Israeli airline is expected to shake up the local aviation market, which serves about 10 million residents, an unprecedented ratio in terms of the number of local airlines.