Israir to begin New York flights in September after $85m. investment in two Airbus A330 aircraft

Israir Airlines will open ticket sales for its New York route after completing preparations to operate two Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, marking an expansion beyond its traditional short- and medium-haul network.

The first flight from Tel Aviv to New York is scheduled for September 15, with the first return flight from New York to Israel planned for September 17. Israir said it completed the operational and regulatory preparations within three and a half months.

The company made the final payment for the two A330s on May 27. Including service-related modifications and spare-parts inventory, the investment totals about $85 million. Israir has signed more than 60 agreements for the new operation and obtained approvals from Israel's Civil Aviation Authority, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA approval, received in August, represented the final major regulatory step for the U.S. service. Israir has recruited and trained dedicated crews for the A330s while continuing to operate eight Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft.

The airline said it would introduce the wide-body aircraft gradually, with safety, efficiency and customer service as priorities. It also plans to operate two additional wide-body aircraft through wet-lease agreements and is preparing a third self-operated wide-body aircraft for the second half of 2027. The expansion will also draw on its Super Fly credit card, new technology, commercial agreements, strategic partnerships and growth at its company-owned maintenance center.