Editing Israir

{{short description|Israeli airline}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Israir<br />{{Script/Hebrew|ישראייר}}
| image = 
| logo = Israir_Logo.png
| logo_size = 250
| fleet_size = 8 <!--DO NOT LIST ORDERS HERE-->
| destinations = 19 scheduled
| IATA = 6H
| ICAO = ISR
| callsign = ISRAIR
| parent = [[Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing|Rami Levy group]] (as BGI)
| founded = 1989 (as Knafei HaEmek)<br />1996 (as Israir)
| num_employees = 
| headquarters = [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]
| aoc = 
| bases = {{nowrap|[[Ben Gurion Airport]]}}
| hubs = 
| focus_cities = 
| frequent_flyer = 
| lounge = 
| key_people = <div>
* {{nowrap|Uri Sirkis, [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]]}}</div>
| website = {{Official website|https://www.israirairlines.com/}}

}}
'''Israir Airlines Ltd.''', more commonly referred to as '''Israir''', is an Israeli low-cost [[airline]] headquartered in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref>"[http://www.israirairlines.com/contact.asp Contact Israir Airlines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429095457/http://www.israirairlines.com/contact.asp |date=2009-04-29 }}." Israir Airlines. Retrieved on 23 September 2009. "Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. 23 Ben Yehuda Street"</ref> It operates domestic scheduled and air taxi flights from [[Ben Gurion International Airport]], [[Ramon Airport]], and [[Haifa Airport]] as well as scheduled and charter international services from Ben Gurion International Airport to Europe and Asia.<ref name="About">{{cite web | url=http://www.israirairlines.com/about.asp | title=About Israir Airlines | access-date=2007-05-08 | publisher=Israir Airlines | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509083409/http://www.israirairlines.com/about.asp | archive-date=2007-05-09 }}</ref> It also operates VIP flights, and is Israel's second-largest airline after [[El Al]], surpassing [[Arkia Israel Airlines]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|Coronavirus pandemic]], employing some 350&nbsp;staff.<ref name="About"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3345724,00.html | title=Israir Airlines (Israel's Second Largest)| access-date=2007-05-05 | newspaper=YnetNews | date=2006-12-28}}</ref>

==History==
===Foundation and early years===
[[File:Israir Airbus A330-200 Stegmeier.jpg|thumb|A former Israir [[Airbus A330-200]] in 2008.]]
Israir Airlines was established in 1989 as Kanfei HaEmek (Valley Wings) before changing its name to Israir Airlines in 1996. It is now wholly owned by the Rami Levi Group. 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 airline|charter]] flights in 1999, building up a route network that now covers much of Europe, as well as regularly flying to other destinations in Asia, Africa, and North America. The airline is said to have modeled itself on US [[low-cost airline|low-cost]] carrier [[JetBlue]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hoovers.com/israir/--ID__127439--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml?cm_ven=Biz_Dev&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Free&cm_ite=Factsheet | title=Israir Airlines information | access-date=2007-05-12 | publisher=Hoovers.com}}</ref>

The airline expanded operations across the [[Atlantic Ocean]] when regular charter service to New York City's [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] was started in June 2004.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}} Permission was granted to the airline to convert this to regular scheduled service by the Israeli government and the [[FAA]] on May 1, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/01/more_competitio.html |title=More competition between Israel, New York |access-date=2007-05-06 |work=USA Today |last=Mutzabaugh |first=Ben |date=2006-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621071127/http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/01/more_competitio.html |archive-date=2008-06-21 }}</ref> This 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000369305&fid=942 |title=Israir to end New York flights |access-date=2008-08-08  |publisher=Globes |date=2008-08-06 |author=Dalia Tal}}</ref> After Israir was granted permission to operate scheduled service on the lucrative New York-Tel Aviv route, it also entered talks with both Boeing and [[Airbus]] regarding the acquisition of new aircraft to its fleet and replacement of its existing jets.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} The company was said to be in talks with Airbus over the A350 model.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} It also signed a deal to acquire [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881941980&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull | title=Israir Airlines to buy two Airbus A320s | first=Avi | last=Krawitz | publisher=The Jerusalem Post | access-date=2007-07-20 | date=2006-12-21 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This was a significant milestone in Israeli aviation, as no airline had ever before purchased Airbus aircraft.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.port2port.com/Index.asp?CategoryID=44&ArticleID=1319 | title=Airbus marks first breakthrough in the Israeli market with Israir Airlines A320 order | access-date=2007-05-06 | publisher=Port2Port | date=2007-04-23 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190624/http://www.port2port.com/Index.asp?CategoryID=44&ArticleID=1319 | archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref> In April 2008, the airline received an [[Airbus A330]] for its New York flights to replace the [[Boeing 767]] aircraft it had previously been wet-leasing.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000324234&fid=1725 | work=Globes | access-date=2008-03-20 | date=2008-03-20 | first=Dalia | last=Tal | title=Israir adds scheduled flights to New York}}</ref> Israir however meanwhile no longer flies to New York and has since phased out all long-haul aircraft.

In early 2007, the airline announced plans to introduce ''Sky-Torah'' scrolls on each of its aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-27-2006/0004497075&EDATE= |title=Israir Airlines Introduces the 'Sky-Torah' |access-date=2007-05-05 |publisher=PR Newswire |date=2006-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134326/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F12-27-2006%2F0004497075&EDATE= |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These were effectively [[Torah]] scrolls which would be carried on board its flight for [[Jewish]] passengers to use for prayer. This is a first for any Israeli airline and was seen by many as a means to attract many [[Haredi]] passengers to the airline at a time when they were showing great dissatisfaction with arch-rival, [[El Al]], following their flying of aircraft on the [[Shabbat]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizbuzzmedia.com/blogs/airline/archive/2007/1/3.aspx |title=Flying Torah |work=Airline Business |date=2007-01-03 |access-date=2007-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714204010/http://www.bizbuzzmedia.com/blogs/airline/archive/2007/1/3.aspx |archive-date=2007-07-14 }}</ref> Later on in 2007, an Israir passenger announced he was filing a lawsuit against the airline for misadvertising the legroom they offered on their aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/859006.html |title=Customer files lawsuit against Israir Airlines over reduced legroom |access-date=2007-05-12 |work=Haaretz |date=2007-05-13 |first=Carmel |last=Ben-Zur |archive-date=2007-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515065001/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/859006.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In early 2008, when restrictions were lifted on Israeli airlines' destinations, Israir applied for designated carrier status on routes from Israel to London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, [[Amsterdam]], Rome, [[Budapest]], [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]], and [[Miami]] – some of which were destinations served by the airline as charter routes back then.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000308362&fid=1725 |title=Israir seeks designated carrier status for US, European destinations |access-date=2008-02-11 |date=2008-02-11 |publisher=Globes}}</ref>

===Developments since 2010===
[[File:4X-ATI LLBG25-07-2014a.jpg|thumb|A former Israir [[ATR 72-200]] in 2014.]]
Israir received the first of the two [[ATR 72]] aircraft it had on order in early July 2011 to replace the [[ATR 42]], with the second one expected to follow later that month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/07/12/359383/israir-takes-delivery-of-first-atr-72-500.html |title=Israir takes delivery of first ATR 72-500 |publisher=Flightglobal.com |date=12 June 2011 |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715163524/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/07/12/359383/israir-takes-delivery-of-first-atr-72-500.html |archive-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, the airline posted losses of 18.4 million [[Israeli new shekel|shekel]].<ref name="aerotelegraph.com"/> On 25 May 2015, an Israir [[Airbus A320-200]] has been seized by Portuguese authorities while in Lisbon over unpaid debts to Portuguese airline [[euroAtlantic Airways]] for a leasing contract in 2008.<ref name="aerotelegraph.com">http://www.aerotelegraph.com/flugzeug-israir-lissbaon-beschlagnahmt-fusion-sun-dor-el-al{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://ch-aviation.com/portal/news/37635-euroatlantic-seizes-israir-a320-over-sour-2008-lease-deal |title = EuroAtlantic seizes Israir A320 over sour 2008 lease deal}}</ref> Also in May 2015, [[El Al]] confirmed it was in talks to merge its subsidiary [[Sun D'Or]] into Israir. While Sun D'Or would be dissolved, El Al would gain shares in Israir instead.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://ch-aviation.com/portal/news/37625-israels-el-al-confirms-talks-to-merge-sun-dor-with-israir |title = Israel's el al confirms talks to merge Sun d'Or with Israir}}</ref>

In October 2020, it was announced that the company is being auctioned off, the bids need to be submitted by November 8. On October 4, the first bid was submitted by [[Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing|Rami Levy]] and Shalom Haim through BGI Investments.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-04-10|title=Rami Levy opens bidding for Israir|language=en|work=Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-rami-levy-opens-bidding-for-israir-1001344457|access-date=2020-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rami Levy makes NIS 70 million offer to purchase Israir Airlines|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/rami-levy-makes-a-nis-70-million-offer-to-purchase-israir-airlines-644490|access-date=2020-10-15|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=5 October 2020 }}</ref> On October 13, Dubai-based [[NY Koen Group]], headed by [[Naum Koen]], has announced its intention to participate in the auction.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=staff|first1=T. O. I.|last2=Agencies|title=Dubai-based company to bid for purchase of Israir Airlines|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/dubai-based-company-to-bid-for-purchase-of-israir-airlines/|access-date=2020-10-15|website=timesofisrael.com|date=13 October 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-13|title=Dubai-based NY Koen Group to bid for Israir|language=en|work=Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-dubai-based-ny-koen-group-to-bid-for-israir-1001345477|access-date=2020-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-15|title=איש העסקים היהודי ירכוש את ישראייר? "אולי נשנה את השם ל'ישרא-דובאי'"|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/economy/article/Hysvk5rPw|access-date=2020-10-15|website=ynet|language=he |last1=שומפלבי |first1=אטילה |last2=זומר |first2=נווית }}</ref>

== Fleet ==
[[File:4X-ABG LLBG 11-07-2014b.jpg|thumb|Israir [[A320-200]]]]
As of February 2025, the Israir fleet consists of the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Israir.htm |title=airfleets.net - Israir | date=4 May 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto;text-align:center"
|+'''Israir Fleet'''
|- 
!Aircraft
!In service
!Orders
!Passengers
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|8
|1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/israir-group-expands-fleet-with-a320-200-purchase|title=Israir Group Expands Fleet with A320-200 Purchase - TipRanks.com|website=TipRanks Financial}}</ref>
|180
170
168
|
|-
!Total
!8
!1
! colspan="2" |
|}

== Incidents and accidents ==
* In June 2001, one of Israir's [[ATR 42|ATR 42-320]] aircraft was damaged beyond repair following a heavy landing at Ben Gurion Airport. Despite the aircraft being written off, no passengers were injured in this incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010618-0 | title=ASN Aircraft accident description | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=2007-05-12}}</ref>
* On July 6, 2005 a fully loaded Israir 767 accidentally taxied onto an active runway at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK]], and a [[Douglas DC-8]] [[cargo aircraft]] narrowly avoided collision by taking off at full throttle above them, with only 45 feet of clearance over the 767.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/24/news/airport.php | title=N.Y. runway tapes reveal how jets nearly collided| publisher=International Herald Tribune | access-date=2007-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621111634/http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/24/news/airport.php |archive-date=21 June 2008 }}</ref>
* In May 2007, an Israir aircraft on a test flight was almost shot down by [[Israeli Air Force|Israeli]] [[F-16]] jets after it entered a demarcation zone where airlines are expected to identify themselves.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000195254&fid=1725 | title=Israir Airlines test flight nearly shot down by F16s | access-date=2007-05-12 | publisher=Globes | date=2007-03-21}}</ref>
* Later that month, on May 23, an Israir flight had to make an emergency landing following smoke build up in the cabin on approach at [[Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport]]. No one was injured in the incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1178708664275&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull | title=Israeli plane makes emergency landing | access-date=2007-05-24 | publisher=The Jerusalem Post | date=2007-05-23 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* In July 2008, an Israir aircraft flew from [[Eilat Airport]] to [[Ben Gurion International Airport]] with a small hole in its frame. The hole was discovered by mechanics at Ben Gurion and there was an investigation as to whether or not Israir knew of the hole, which, as it turns out, was caused by Israir workers in Eilat when they crashed a mobile staircase into the aircraft's body. The plane was scheduled to fly to Italy from Tel Aviv, and at an altitude of over 10,000 meters, the plane would most likely have experienced a decompression.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1009927.html | title=Probe: Did Israir hide plane damage? | publisher=Ha'aretz | access-date=2008-08-10 | archive-date=2008-08-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813081816/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1009927.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* In January 2025, an Israir aircraft that was meant to fly from Tel Aviv to London declared an emergency and returned to [[Ben Gurion International Airport]] after flying in circles for three hours to burn fuel before landing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kikar.co.il/israel-news/israir-london-flight-emergency-landing | title=Drama in the air: Israir flight to London returns for emergency landing | publisher=Ha'aretz | access-date=2008-08-10 | archive-date=2025-01-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126212636/https://www.kikar.co.il/israel-news/israir-london-flight-emergency-landing | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Israir}}
* {{Official website|https://www.israirairlines.com}} {{in_lang|en|he}}

{{Portalbar|Israel|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Israel}}
{{Transportation in Israel}}
{{IATA members|europe}}

[[Category:Companies based in Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1996]]
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[[Category:Israeli companies established in 1989]]
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