Israir has received final approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration to begin scheduled commercial flights to the United States, clearing the last major regulatory hurdle for its planned Tel Aviv-New York service. The Israeli carrier is preparing to open ticket sales soon and is targeting a debut in early fourth-quarter 2026, with Airbus A330-200 aircraft expected to operate the route.
The FAA decision follows earlier clearances from Israeli and US authorities and allows Israir to move from regulatory preparation to operational planning. The route is expected to connect Ben Gurion Airport with New York’s JFK Airport, returning the carrier to the US market after roughly 17 years.
The launch date remains subject to final scheduling, with 19 October 2026 previously cited as a target rather than a confirmed first flight. If the timetable is finalised sooner, the service could begin earlier. The new operation would add another competitor on a high-demand transatlantic corridor already served by several carriers and could increase capacity on the Tel Aviv-New York market.