Overview
- The U.S. Department of Transportation gave Israir initial approval to sell tickets, and the airline says it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to complete the remaining operational and security review.
- Israir is targeting an October 19 start for daily nonstop service to New York’s JFK and expects to put tickets on sale imminently if the FAA grants final authorization.
- The carrier has acquired two Israel‑registered Airbus A330-200 widebodies configured in three cabins with lie-flat business seats so it can operate independently rather than wet-leasing aircraft and crews.
- Industry and travel advisers say Israir’s entry will raise seat supply on the busy JFK–TLV corridor and is likely to pressure fares and availability outside the high-demand Tishrei holiday period.
- The plan carries risk because Israir lost money on this route in the past and the October 19 target comes too late to ease peak holiday fares, so the wider impact will depend on final FAA approval and how competing carriers restore routes.