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Israir to offer subsidized Eilat flights for residents

Israel’s second-largest carrier will operate at least four daily flights connecting the Red Sea resort with central Israel at a reduced fare of about $33 for a one-way ticket for city residents.

Passengers wearing protective face masks board an Israir flight to Eilat from Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport, on May 13, 2020. Photo by Yossi Zeliger/Flash90.
Passengers board an Israir flight to Eilat from Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, on May 13, 2020. Photo by Yossi Zeliger/Flash90.

Israeli airline Israir will offer subsidized flights to central Israel for residents of the southern city of Eilat, Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced on Monday.

Israel’s second-largest carrier will operate at least four daily flights connecting the Red Sea resort with central Israel at a reduced fare for city residents of 99 shekels, or about $33.

The move is designed to strengthen southern Israel’s connection to the center of the country.

“Ensuring continuous air service to and from Eilat is a fundamental prerequisite for Eilat residents’ access to healthcare, economic, educational and academic services as well as to all aspects of life,” said Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri.

“Eilat is a strategic city for the state of Israel—a hub of tourism, employment and commerce—and its residents deserve high-quality, accessible and affordable transportation links to the center of the country,” said Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev.

Etgar Lefkovits, an award-winning international journalist, is an Israel correspondent and a feature news writer for JNS. A native of Chicago, he has two decades of experience in journalism, having served as Jerusalem correspondent in one of the world’s most demanding positions. He is currently based in Tel Aviv.
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