Israir: Israel's Second Airline Between Leased Aircraft and New Intercontinental Routes

History and positioning

With over three decades in business, Israir has always positioned itself as a smaller, leisure-oriented alternative to El Al, historically also relying on leased capacity to adapt its network to seasonal demand.

The fleet

A mixed fleet that has included leased Boeing 737-700/-800s (including from Hello Jets) for the short and medium-haul network, alongside a new push into widebodies with the arrival of Airbus A330 aircraft intended for the airline's first direct Tel Aviv-New York flights.

Routes and network

About 19 destinations across Europe and Asia from Tel Aviv, with strongly leisure-oriented routes such as Athens, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw, plus domestic flights and flights from the more southerly Ramon Airport; the new A330s mark Israir's move into long-haul, which has so far been absent from its network.

What passengers say

Reviews remain mixed rather than clearly positive or negative: the cabin crew is rated well, while comfort, entertainment and food score lower, and delays are among the most frequently cited complaints.

The ideal passenger is the leisure traveler on a European route from Tel Aviv, or someone who wants to try out Israir's new long-haul link to New York early on. It is not the right choice for anyone expecting entertainment and catering comparable to a dedicated long-haul carrier. Practical tip: given the use of leased aircraft on part of the network, check the aircraft type assigned to your specific flight instead of assuming a uniform cabin product on every route.