A significant step towards opening the new route: Israir has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin ticket sales to the USA, with initial flights scheduled from October 19, 2026. The final approval for flight operations is still pending with the FAA – and if received earlier, the company plans to advance the route’s opening. Israir’s path to the United States progresses another step, and this time, the news will soon reach the traveling public. Israir announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation, allowing it to begin selling flight tickets to the United States. Following the approval, the company intends to start ticket sales as early as next week. However, there is an important point: receiving approval for ticket sales is not the end of the process. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA, continues the necessary review and approval process before Israir can actually operate flights to the USA.
Tickets will be sold for flights from October
Israir announced that initially, sales will open for flights departing from October 19, 2026. According to the company, the choice of date was made with responsibility and caution towards customers, while the approval process with the FAA is still ongoing. The company states that they are in continuous contact with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and are cooperating with relevant parties, with the expectation of receiving final approval soon.
Flights might start earlier
And here comes the particularly interesting part. Israir does not necessarily intend to wait until October 19. The company clarifies that if the FAA completes the process and approves Israir to operate flights to New York earlier, the company plans to immediately advance the start of flight operations – and accordingly, open ticket sales for earlier dates. In other words, October 19 is currently the date from which Israir intends to sell tickets, but it is possible that earlier flights will also be opened later.
Another Israeli company on the way to New York
Opening the route to the United States will be a very significant step for Israir, which until now has not been a regular player on the direct routes between Israel and the USA. For Israeli travelers, the interesting implication is increased competition and seat availability on the sought-after route to New York. The entry of another Israeli player into the market may provide travelers with additional options in choosing flight times and dates, and of course, the prices Israir will present with the opening of sales will be particularly interesting.
Now everyone will wait for one thing: the price
And this will probably be the first question from travelers when the reservation system opens next week: How much will a flight to New York with Israir cost? The company’s current announcement does not detail the ticket prices that will be offered, so it will be interesting to see how Israir prices the route and what types of tickets and services will be offered to passengers. If the company manages to offer attractive prices, its entry into the route may become particularly relevant for Israelis planning to fly to New York in the fall and winter.
Still waiting for the final approval
Despite the significant development, it is important to emphasize again: Israir is still waiting for the completion of the FAA approval process for operating the flights themselves. Receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation allows the company to proceed to the ticket sales stage, but the final operational approval is still in process. Israir concludes the development with enthusiasm, stating that the company is excited about opening a “new and significant chapter” in its operations and looks forward to soon bringing the news of flights to the United States to its customers. And now, after the approvals and bureaucracy, Israeli travelers are left to wait for next week – and see how much it will actually cost to fly with Israir to New York. Flight Hunter Click here to join the Flight Hunter WhatsApp group
