In a push to expand severely limited US-Israel travel options, Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is in talks with US regulators to allow Israir Airlines to launch direct flights between Tel Aviv and New York. If approved, Israir aims to start flights to Newark Airport as early as this winter, pending completion of complex regulatory and logistical arrangements.
Israir plans to operate these flights through a “wet-lease” agreement, where a foreign carrier supplies the aircraft and crew, while Israir operates the flights under its own brand. However, multiple regulatory hurdles remain. Israir must secure clearances from US authorities and ensure compliance with Israel’s aviation regulations, which currently govern its ability to expand services.
The initiative comes at a time when El Al is the sole airline offering direct service between Israel and New York. Major US carriers have scaled back their Israel routes: American Airlines has suspended flights until at least September 2025, Delta Airlines until March 2025, and United Airlines indefinitely. Israir’s entry into the market would provide travelers with more choices and potentially lower fares as competition increases.
Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev expressed strong support for the initiative, citing it as an example of Israeli companies stepping up in challenging times. “I thank the CAA for their thorough work in easing the travel crisis caused by recent events. This move shows Israeli companies demonstrating national responsibility,” Regev said. “I commend Rami Levy and Israir Airlines for their efforts to launch this new route. It’s a step toward healthier competition, more options for the public, and reduced travel costs.”
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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28 Responses
they need to finish expanding Haifa and Eilat airports for at least europe flights
headline is Motzey shem rah
Robbery?? Do you know how much it costs to fly in and out of Israel during war time? Insurance? Increased Security? Missile Defense systems on civilian planes? If you think you can do it for cheaper then go for it, but don’t smear other Jews.
I just want to point out that if you book ahead you will pay normal fare
Go and look it up. January and February you can find nonstop for $1200
So yes, if you book last minute and want non stop convenience and reliability you are paying more these days
But, plan ahead and stop kvetching
I agree with anshuldix- “headline is Motzey Shem Rah.” Please change it for the sake of El Al and Halacha.
THIS HEADLINE IS COMPLETELY WRONG!!!
Does being the ONLY airline flying to Israel make them a robber?!?!?!
They are the only airline that stuck it out thru thick and thin!!
The flights are packed. Standard pricing on ALL airlines is as the flight fills up the price goes up.
You owe them an apology!!!
Just for the record I have nothing in it for ELAL by making this comment.
My question for israir is “are they going to have the same defense system that el al has? If not why risk your life
Headline could say “end El Al’s Monopoly”, without the implied accusations.
Laws of supply and demand at work here. Limited supply=higher price. Israir wants to cash in on the market, when they hit capacity prices will go back to where they are now.
There you go! Pull the good old “lashon hara” card.
idiots.
Do you know what the Chofetz Chaim writes? If there is a bad shoemaker in town, you are MECHUYAV to tell everyone about it.
This is going on for far too long. And don’t tell me the excuses about what it costs to run an airline in a war with insurance etc. WE ALL SEE THEIR PROFITS. IT IS DISGUSTING.
We have had enough.
What will that help when the foreign airlines are the ones whose planes are supposed to be doing the flying?
about time someone says something. we were just talking to friends about this. they are taking advantage of everyone and we know it. everyone is entitled to make alot of money. but no one is entitled to steal.
i can’t wait for israir so we can finally end this degusting geneiva
@anshuldix – It’s the truth so it’s not motzei shem ra. And guess what? It’s not even lashon hara.
i sent my newly married couple just now after sukkos. wasnt too bad. 4 grand approx for 2 lousy tickets. crammed in to the back of teh plane.
great job.
another 2/3 airlines will start flights, and the prices will go down to 900 a ticket
ywn should be promoting LaLechet heavily and end this nightmare.
Pure motzi Shem ra according to all shitos. They are not overcharging, they are allowed to make profits which they need to buy new aircraft and similar, and they are the only ones willing to do it. Let someone make a living and dragon him for once. These are they types of people that won’t let a guy earn a buck but when when they come to your house at night as an ani you happily give them as tzedaka. Come off it already. Try running an airline to Israel of all places and you would charge double. And no I know no one in this airline.
anshuldix
Yep, that’s the famous answer to all forms of abuse – it’s lashon hara, motzi shem ra etc. We cover for the abusers and allow them to continue their abuse, scams etc, of course with only ehrliche intentions!
I have never posted before but I am quite shocked and extremely disappointed with this headline. How dare you portray El AL airlines, the only airlines that made us possible to go to Israel to visit family, to share in simchas and bury our loves ones at a time when every other co turned their backs on us. DO you have any idea how much they had to pay to make this happen? Taking all the supplies for the war on board for free. I think you have a short memory. Of course, competition is healthy but it is through no fault of El Al that the they came through for us and others did not. I cant understand how a frum website could post this loshon hora. You owe EL Al a major apology
THANK YOU FOR SAYING WHAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN SAYING
@Loyal – “DO you have any idea how much they had to pay to make this happen?”
DO YOU?!
We do. It’s public information. Why don’t you go look how much money El Al made in the past year. It’s utterly insane. Everyone is entitled to be a millionaire. But no one is entitled to take advantage of us.
So yea, how “dare” you preach to us without the facts, when all the facts are available.
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2286630/el-al-profit-hits-record-80-5-million-in-one-quarter-with-ticket-prices-through-the-roof.html
Is it also “lashon hara” to tell everyone that they don’t pay a penny of taxes on their oodles of profit? https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-el-al-pays-no-tax-on-its-record-profits-1001487048
Get a grip.
I first flew El Al to Israel in 1969, price was $7-800. Recent flight, booked months in advance, is approx $1000. What other prices have stayed so low, especially considering increased costs for fuel, equipment, wages, security, etc?
You can say that the info is public amd everyone can look up and see exactly how much profit they make. Slapping them with the word ROBBERY is clearly Motzei Shem rah. But again everyone can look at previous articles and decide if the editors at YWN have any regard for hilchos lashon horah.
Now that President Elect Donald Trump שליט”א Thank G-d has been elected, the war shall likely finish way sooner than later, and hopefully in the very imminent future, the foreign airlines shall be back on Israel route.
the airline is owned by a frum yid who is a big bal tzedaka.
No one is obligated to buy the product if they feel they’ve been treated unfairly or if the price isn’t right. The fact remains that you cannot get onto a flight. ElAl flights are booked solid. Is everyone so stupid? Why is everyone flying with ganavim and resha’im? It must be that either the world is nuts or people who want to go to EY for whatever the reason do not feel as you do. Nobody forced anyone to buy the product. They’re buying it because it’s what they want.
While I agree that calling Elal prices robbery is LH and not appropriate, I am dismayed and disappointed by their prices over the last year
Yes they are the only airline
Yes the flights are full
But they are making record profits
Insane amounts of money
The are taking advantage of the situation by charging whatever they want
After all, flights are fully booked anyway
But people struggle to pay these prices
Many have no choice if they want to attend yeshiva, family simchas, sometimes burials as well.
They cannot be the gatekeepers to Israel from the US . So you might say do stopover?
My travel agent highly recommended against it as she’s seen too many issues using o multiple carriers.
knowing how terrible loshon harah is, how are the posters of YWN not afraid of the din v’cheshbon? its such a huge responsibility running a news site seen by so many how is this taken so lightly??
To everyone commending Elal for continuing to fly during difficult times, they are being propped up by a multi-billion dollar insurance policy paid for my the Israeli taxpayer…who then have to pay 3-4x the price of an airline ticket for the privilege to fly.
Competition is much needed. Or at least cheaper prices for Israeli citizens who are already paying their taxes.