easyJet to offer 3 weekly flights to Berlin
Low-cost carrier to join four other airlines taking Israelis to German capital, increasing number of flights by 20% and boosting competition
Low-cost carrier easyJet
is planning to start operating flights on the Tel Aviv-Berlin route, which is expected to be next summer's hot route.
easyJet has filed a request with the Israel Airport Authority for slots for three days a week, starting February 2014, ahead of the implementation of the "open skies" policy next summer and the Transportation Ministry's policy to move up the implementation and approve foreign airlines' requests as long as they meet criteria set by Israel and the European Union.
The British airline, which already offers flights from Tel Aviv to fives destinations in Europe (London, Manchester, Geneva, Basel and Rome), plans to introduce three weekly flights from Israel to the German capital.
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Sources in the tourism industry say that easyJet's plan to start flying to Berlin will reinforce the route, which is already considered one of the most popular lines from Israel, especially during the summer.
Some 243,000 passengers flew on this route in the first nine months of 2013, a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.
There are currently four airlines operating on the Berlin-Tel Aviv route – El Al, Air Berlin, Lufthansa and Israir. easyJet's activity on the line will increase the number of flights by some 20% and will likely boost competition over ticket prices.
