Israeli Budget Carrier Israir Given Go Ahead For US Flights As Soon As October

Published Aug 24, 2026, 4:18 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Israeli airline Israir has received the official go-ahead to commence new flights to the United States. The airline, which is a low-cost carrier, advised that the Federal Aviation Administration had provided Israir with its final authorization to begin the trans-Atlantic services, with New York planned to be its first US gateway. Once Israir begins flights to the US, it will go head-to-head with the Israeli flag carrier EL AL, which serves both Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and New York JFK Airport (JFK), while the country's second-largest airline, Arkia, also operates nonstop services to JFK. Israir has not yet outlined which New York airport it plans to serve. Three Israeli Carriers Connecting Tel Aviv To The Big Apple Credit: Shutterstock With EL AL and Arkia already operating the city pair, Israir not only will have to compete against Israeli carriers but also against United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, who plan to resume nonstop services to Tel Aviv from New York in September. Both these airlines have served the country before, but suspended operations to the region following ongoing geopolitical tension. Israir plans to operate the services to New York with its small but capable fleet of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft. These planes have been acquired from oneworld carrier American Airlines and maintain the current AA onboard configuration. Simple Flying reached out to Israir for comment on its New York flight plans; however, an airline spokesperson could not immediately be reached. The airline did, however, share this statement with the Jerusalem Post: "Receiving the FAA approval is the final and decisive step in the regulatory process and joins the previous approvals the company received from aviation authorities in Israel and the US." Israir Nonstop Flights To New York Beginning Soon Credit: GCMap As already mentioned, Israir has hinted that its first nonstop services to the United States will be to New York. This is likely due to tapping into the high demand for leisure travel between New York and Israel, with flights likely to go on sale soon for flights beginning in October. The airline has explained that there is an ongoing 'international expression of trust from the American aviation authority', and that the airline was 'excited to expand its map of destinations to North America'. Israir has suggested that its first flights to New York will take off as soon as October 19, and it is currently working with the FAA and other relevant authorities to ensure the new services can take off without a hitch. This will mark the airline's first destinations in North America, and the fourth outside Europe. Details below: Within Europe Athens, Basel/Mulhouse, Bari, Batumi, Berlin, Bologna, Bucharest–Otopeni, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Larnaca, London–Luton, Madrid, Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino, Tbilisi, Thessaloniki, Tirana, Tivat, Vilnius, Catania, Corfu, Málaga, Sarajevo, Stuttgart, Verona, Plovdiv, Rovaniemi, Varna Outside Europe Baku, Dubai-International, New York–JFK, Zanzibar While the airline aims to start with services to New York, if they are successful, this may see the airline look to other US gateways. Airbus A330-200 Details: 4X-BAK & 4X-BAL Credit: Shutterstock Israir's two A330-200s are the only aircraft in the fleet capable of making the transatlantic hop from Tel Aviv to New York, will cover the 5,677 miles (9,136 km) in just under 12 hours. Both of these planes previously operated for American and have retained the onboard AA configuration of 20 business class, 21 premium economy, and 206 economy class seats. Aircraft details below as per ch-aviation: Israir Aircraft Registration 4X-BAK 4X-BAL Serial Number (MSN) 1095 1100 Hex Code A2DCEE A2E0A5 Age 16.5 years 16.5 years Delivered To US Airways (March 2010) N284AY American Airlines (December 2013) N284AY Jetran (June 2025) N284AY Israir (May 2026) 4X-BAK US Airways (March 2010) N285AY American Airlines (December 2013) N285AY Jetran (December 2024) N285AY Israir (May 2026) 4X-BAL French Airbus Test Registration F-WWYS F-WWYF Israir has a total fleet of just ten aircraft, made up of two widebodies and a further eight Airbus A320-200 aircraft.