Israir Plans Daily New York Flights Starting in October

Israir plans to launch daily flights between Tel Aviv and New York by October 19, adding another carrier to one of Israel’s busiest international routes.

The airline announced Tuesday that it had received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to sell tickets for flights to the United States. However, the airline is still awaiting final authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration before it can begin operating the route.

Tickets are expected to go on sale next week. Israir said it could move the launch forward if the remaining approval arrives sooner. The airline plans to operate daily flights between Ben Gurion Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, with economy, premium and business-class options. It has not yet announced starting fares.

The new service could increase competition on a route that has faced high demand and limited capacity following disruptions during the war with Iran. Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia currently provide the only nonstop service between Israel and the United States.

Some American carriers are expected to begin returning next month. United Airlines plans to resume two daily flights between Newark and Tel Aviv on September 8, while Delta plans to restart its JFK route on September 6. American Airlines has said it does not expect to resume Israel service before March 2027.

Travel industry executives have previously argued that additional competition could help ease pressure on fares. Yoni Waksman, deputy chairman of Ophir Tours, said Israir’s entry would increase consumer choice and bring greater competition back to the New York route.

The New York route also marks Israir’s return to long-haul operations. The airline previously flew between Israel and New York from 2004 until 2008, when rising fuel costs led it to discontinue the service.

Israir has spent months preparing for the route, including adding an Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft to its fleet. Earlier plans called for flights to begin during the summer, but regulatory and operational requirements delayed the launch.