After carrying more than 2.1 million passengers in what it called a record year and becoming the second
By Sammy,
After carrying more than 2.1 million passengers in what it called a record year and becoming the second largest airline operating at Ben Gurion Airport, Israir says it is now pushing into long haul markets in a major shift from its traditional short and medium haul focus. The airline said it plans to run the long haul activity as a separate profit unit, with its own pricing, network planning and customer experience strategy, aiming to compete more aggressively in long distance routes.
As part of this expansion, Israir said preparations are underway to launch flights to New York and to destinations across East and Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines. It also said it is reviewing additional future routes to Miami, Hong Kong and another destination in China, though it has not yet announced when any of the new routes will begin operating.
The new long haul operation will be supported by a planned fleet of six wide body aircraft, marking a significant change in Israir's business model. The airline has already reported plans to acquire two Airbus A330 wide body jets, with four more expected to join the fleet later. Israir said the expanded fleet is intended to help it enter long haul markets faster and provide greater flexibility as competition continues to grow at Ben Gurion Airport.
To lead the initiative, Israir appointed Yoav Weiss as vice president in charge of U.S. and Far East routes and wide body fleet management. The airline said Weiss brings more than two decades of experience in the aviation sector, including serving as Virgin Atlantic's country manager and holding senior roles at El Al overseeing North American and Asian markets. Israir said the push toward long haul expansion is also taking place as competition rises in the local aviation market, including government efforts to establish a Wizz Air operating hub at Ben Gurion Airport, increasing pressure from foreign carriers and encouraging Israeli airlines to expand into routes traditionally dominated by El Al and other established operators.
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.