• Code: 6H
• Name: ISRAIR Airlines and Tourism Ltd
• Tel: +9237954038
• Fax: +9237954051
• E-Mail: talya@israir.co.il
• Foundation: 1989
• Country: Israel
• Web: www.israirairlines.com

History

Israir Airlines was established in 1989 as Knafei HaEmek (Valley Wings), before changing its name to Israir Airlines in 1996.

The airline began with domestic services from Eilat Airport, Ben Gurion International Airport, Sde Dov Airport, and Haifa Airport in the North of the country. It expanded its operations to begin international charter flights in 1999 building up a route network which now covers much of Europe, as well as regularly flying to other destinations in Asia, Africa, and North America.

The airline expanded operations across the Atlantic when they started a regular charter service to New York City's Kennedy International Airport in June 2004.
Service to JFK in New York City ended on 13th September, 2008 and permission was then granted to the airline to convert this to a regular scheduled service by the Israeli government and the FAA as of 1st May, 2006. The service was discontinued in September 2008, due to escalating fuel prices and the expectation of a drop in the number of passengers due to the weakness of the dollar at the time.

In early 2007, the airline announced plans to introduce Sky-Torah scrolls on each of its aircraft. These were effectively Torah scrolls which would be carried on board the flight for Jewish passengers to use for prayer. This is a first for any Israeli airline.

In early 2008, when restrictions were lifted on Israeli airline destinations, Israir applied for designated carrier status on routes from Israel to London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Amsterdam, Rome, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Miami - some of which are destinations which are currently served by the airline as charter routes.

Israir is now wholly owned by the Ganden Group.