Israel's newest airline, Air Haifa, began its operations from Haifa Airport for the first time on Sunday morning. The airline’s inaugural flight from the northern airport departed for Ramon Airport, and later in the morning, its first international flight took off for Larnaca, Cyprus.
The airline initially began operations at the end of September but had been operated out of Ben Gurion Airport due to the war.
Jetstream before the inaugural flight
(Video: Iris Lifshitz-Klieger)
A festive ceremony was held at Haifa Airport before the inaugural flight, attended by the Minister of Transportation, the CEO of the Airports Authority, the manager of Haifa Airport, the mayor of Haifa, and the airline's founders.
As part of the launch event, attendees watched a traditional water salute for the airline’s plane before its departure to Ramon Airport. Ahead of the commencement of commercial operations, infrastructure work was completed at Haifa International Airport, with considerable sums of money invested. This included a comprehensive runway renovation, upgrades to operational systems, and the preparation of additional parking spaces. Biometric check-in stations for international flights were also installed.
The airline will operate three daily flights from Haifa to Larnaca, with roundtrip tickets starting at $118, and two daily flights to Eilat, with one-way tickets starting at $51. Upon the start of operations from its base in Haifa, the airline’s fleet will consist of three modern ATR 72-600 aircraft. Flights on the Haifa-Athens route, set to begin on January 2, 2025, will initially operate five times per week (on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), with departures from Haifa at 9:00 a.m. and from Athens at 1:00 p.m.
Additionally, Egged bus transporation will launch a new Route 100, offering frequent service every 30 minutes from the Bay Central Station, a transportation hub connected to Israel Railways, buses, the Metronit (BRT system) and the cable car.
Meir Cohen, manager of Haifa Airport, noted that passengers are only 150 meters from the passenger terminal after parking their cars or arriving by bus. He stated that the long-term forecast is for one million passengers annually, with a short-term projection of 200,000 passengers per year.
"This is a particularly historic and exciting moment for the residents of the north and for the team at Air Haifa," Michael Strassburger, one of Air Haifa’s founders, said. "After a long wait and extensive preparations, we are proud to begin regular operations from Haifa International Airport. We want to thank the Ministry of Transportation, the Airports Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Haifa Municipality, the National Authority for Public Transport, the Israel Ports Company, and all our many partners who support, accompany, and invest to ensure the highest level of aviation operations from Haifa."
Nir Zuk, another founder of Air Haifa, added: "When you establish a new company, whether it's a high-tech company, an airline, a bank, or a real estate project, you always need partners. There’s no way to do it alone. Partners aren’t just those who share the journey with you but also those who believe in your vision. In an airline, for example, this is especially true. On the very first day, we realized we needed to gain the support of the regulator, the Ministry of Transportation, and all relevant bodies.
"The three of us, along with one more colleague, went to meet with the CEO of the Ministry of Transportation and presented our vision – a plan to establish an airline in Haifa. The CEO immediately believed in the idea. He even took the initiative and presented it to the Minister, who was also enthusiastic and expressed immediate confidence. That was a pivotal moment – seeing how the leadership’s spirit inspired everyone involved in the project. Everyone mobilized, and the vision began to take shape. Ultimately, the success of a project doesn’t depend solely on you but also on the people willing to believe in and join you on the journey."
Yigal and Mezi Shemer from Mitzpe Adi, a community settlement not far from Haifa, were among the passengers on the maiden flight to Eilat. "This isn’t the first time we’re flying from Haifa Airport," they said. "In past years, there were flights from here to Eilat operated by Arkia and Israir. Now we have the honor of being on a commercial flight to Eilat from Haifa with Air Haifa. Getting to the airport from our home was very quick. Parking was free, and the check-in process, from the moment we entered the terminal, was especially fast. Check-in and security screening were done at a single station, including luggage drop-off."
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Ayla and Zvi Goldenberg from the greater Haifa area will be flying to Larnaca this morning with their son Moshe. "We’re happy to be able to fly close to home without having to travel to Ben Gurion Airport as we had to before," said the family. "The flight cost us $170 per person for a roundtrip ticket."
Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, stated this morning that flight prices are burdensome for Israeli citizens and that the government will lead an initiative to prevent consumer exploitation.
"It’s important to continue encouraging competition in the aviation industry," said Regev, who emphasized her opposition to amending the Tibi Law, which protects consumer rights in aviation. She added, "Although we worked hard to maintain open skies during the war, foreign airlines have not yet returned in large numbers. Hopefully, they will return soon."