Israir given final FAA clearance for flights to US

Israir says it has received US regulatory approval necessary to start operating long-haul services to North America as the Israeli low-cost airline prepares to launch nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and New York.

Israir says it has obtained the green light from the US Federal Aviation Administration to operate scheduled commercial flights, finalizing previous authorizations from aviation authorities in both Israel and the US.

Tickets are expected to go on sale “very soon,” the airline announces. Previously, Israir was planning to start selling flight tickets for the New York route on October 19.

The debut of Israir’s long-haul flight service to New York comes after local rival Arkia launched nonstop service between Tel Aviv and New York in February 2025, bringing more local competition into the mix against flagship carrier El Al.

Uncertainty surrounding the availability of flights from international airlines in recent years due to wars has led many Israeli travelers to rely more heavily on local carriers, sparking a push for increased competition beyond El Al.

Several US airlines that canceled service with the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran in late February have yet to resume flying to and from Tel Aviv.

United Airlines is preparing to resume nonstop flight services from New York to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on September 8. US rival Delta is expected to restart flight operations to Tel Aviv on September 6, while American Airlines has suspended the route through March 27, 2027.