Direct Tel Aviv-NY Charter Flights now being offered by Israir Airlines

Israir Airlines is about to make aviation and air charter history by becoming the first carrier to offer direct air charter flights between Israel and the United States starting in June, according to the news organization, Ha’aretz.

The local charter company will begin for the first time connecting Tel Aviv and New York City, a heavily traveled and popular flight destination for both cities.

On Sunday, Sabin Biran, the CEO of Israir, announced on that the company would fly Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday—three charters a week--to New York's JFK Airport--at prices ranging from $700-$1,100, excluding taxes.

Prices for flights offered by El Al and other foreign airlines would be reduced by up to $150 per person in tourist class, Biran said. In additon, she hoped the new charter airline would win over some 20,000-30,000 passengers a year, which calculates to roughly five percent of the current United States-Israel air travel market.

After congratulating Israir following the announcement of their new jet charter services, a source close to El Al stated that its true competition came from service offered by Continental Airlines and European Airlines and that “we will operate 30 weekly flights to New York," adding that 17 of those flights would be geared to children. Discounts of up to 30 percent would be granted on those particular flights.

The only two airlines currently offering direct flights between Israel and New York are El Al Israel Airlines and Continental Airlines. The Israeli carrier, El Al, recently due to the popularity of that particular flight route, has added 14 additional weekly air charter flights.