A new Israeli airline is preparing to take off next year amid a boost in the local aviation industry, the Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday.
The move highlights the revived demand for travel to Israel and pent-up demands among locals. Foreign carriers have repeatedly suspended flights to Tel Aviv due to the regional tensions while Israeli carriers have been raking in record profits.
The Israeli owners of Larnaca, Cyprus-based TUS Airways and Crete, Greece-based Bluebird Airways have received a commercial license to start TUS IL, clearing a major regulatory hurdle.
The new airline, which will be become the fifth Israeli carrier, aims to begin operations from Tel Aviv in 2026, officials said. It will focus on the European market and later add flights to the Gulf region.
Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev called the regulatory approval a “consumer and strategic breakthrough” that will increase competition and lower fares, and highlighted the importance of reliable Israeli carriers that continue flying in times of war.
In addition to Israel’s flagship carrier, El Al, two smaller Israeli airlines, Arkia and Israir, have been operating throughout the 20 months of war against Hamas in Gaza, along with the newly established Air Haifa launched last year.
Most international airlines have repeatedly canceled flights to Israel during the war following periodic flare-ups in violence. Major carriers, led by Delta Air Lines and subsequently United Airlines recently returned to Tel Aviv ahead of the busy summer season.
Meanwhile, Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air is expected to soon sign an agreement to operate an Israeli subsidiary, an Israeli Transport Ministry spokesman said.
Wizz Air, which unlike its chief competitor Ryanair has renewed service to Tel Aviv, did not return emails seeking comment on the move by press time.