Photo: Shutterstock Israir's New York Route Approval.
The Ministry of Transport announced yesterday that Israir has received an initial permit to operate flights to New York. However, this is just the first of three stages required for obtaining the final license.
In the next stage, Israir will need to meet the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the American government’s aviation security standards. It is estimated that the process will take several months, with a target completion by next October.
Israir. Photo: ShutterstockMeanwhile, Israir is already preparing to launch daily flights to New York starting June 2026. To achieve this, the airline plans to lease two wide-body jets for a duration of 6–7 years. These aircraft will be painted in Israir's brand colors and flown by its pilots.
Israir plans to recruit around 35 additional pilots, certified to operate wide-body aircraft, in the coming months. Currently, Israir only operates narrow-body planes. This expansion will increase the total number of pilots to nearly 100.
Moreover, the company is establishing operational infrastructure and collaboration with the ground service company "Laufer," which also provides services to United Airlines.
The main push for this initiative comes from Israir's owners, led by businessman Rami Levy. However, there is an industry assessment that to effectively compete with the significant competition on flights to New York, the company should consider purchasing new wide-body aircraft rather than relying solely on leased planes.