The aircraft were acquired as part of the airline’s expansion into the long-haul market and will initially be deployed on Israir’s new route to New York. For the first time in the company’s history, passengers will be offered three classes of service: Economy, Premium, and Business.
Israir is expanding into the long-haul market with the acquisition of two wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft in a deal estimated at approximately $85 million.
The first aircraft, registered 4X-BAK, arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on June 19, 2026, following its ferry flight from a storage facility in Arizona. The second aircraft, registered 4X-BAL, is expected to arrive in Israel shortly.
Featuring a new Israir livery, the aircraft will introduce a three-class cabin configuration—Business, Premium, and Economy—for the first time in the airline’s history. They are scheduled to operate the carrier’s new nonstop route between Tel Aviv and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), with service expected to commence during the third quarter of 2026. Industry observers also anticipate future deployment on Far East routes, particularly Bangkok.
The aircraft already delivered to Israel, 4X-BAK, is 16.4 years old, having completed its first flight in March 2010. Before joining Israir, it served with two U.S. airlines. Originally delivered to US Airways, it later transferred to American Airlines in December 2013 following the merger of the two carriers, remaining in service until its retirement and storage in February 2020.
The second aircraft in the transaction, 4X-BAL, has an identical operational history. It departed the storage facility in Tucson, Arizona, on June 18 and flew to Larnaca, Cyprus, where Bird Aviation, a subsidiary of the Israir Group, operates its maintenance center. The aircraft is expected to formally join its sister ship after completing inspections, maintenance checks, and pre-service preparations.
The acquisition represents a significant shift in Israir’s business model. Until now, the airline has focused primarily on short and medium-haul destinations using narrow-body aircraft. Its entry into the long-haul sector is expected to intensify competition against Israel’s other carriers operating transatlantic services, particularly El Al and Arkia.
According to the company’s operational plan, Israir intends to operate a daily nonstop service to New York. Flights from Tel Aviv are expected to depart late in the evening, arriving at JFK the following morning, while return flights from New York will depart during the late evening hours.
Industry estimates suggest that Israir will attempt to gain market share through aggressive pricing. Introductory Economy Class fares are expected to range between $650 and $850 for a basic round-trip ticket. Premium and Business Class fares are anticipated to be priced significantly below current market averages.
As part of the financing structure supporting the acquisition, Israeli travel company Issta has signed a ten-year agreement guaranteeing the purchase of a fixed block of 40 seats on every flight. At the same time, sales and marketing efforts will rely heavily on Israir’s co-branded credit card partnership with Rami Levy and Isracard.
To support the transition to wide-body operations, Israir has launched several initiatives, including extensive crew training programs. The airline has already begun recruiting and training 16 pilots and approximately 50 cabin crew members specifically for A330 operations.
Meanwhile, Bird Aviation, the group’s maintenance subsidiary in Larnaca, has received the necessary regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority to perform A330 line maintenance. This will provide the airline with greater operational flexibility and maintenance independence at one of its most important regional hubs.
The official launch of the New York service remains subject to the completion of final certification and regulatory approval processes by aviation authorities in both Israel and the United States, with approval expected before the end of the summer.
