Israel Airports Authority predicts an 11% rise in the number of flights to Israel this winter compared with last winter. The winter tourism season officially began on October 25.
Israel airports Authority economist Danny Morag said that one of the main reasons for the increased number of flights and seat capacity is the approval given in recent months to six new carriers to fly to Israel. These carriers are UK companies easyJet and Jet 2, US Airways, Air Berlin and two Russian airlines.
An additional reason for increased air traffic to Israel this winter is that foreign airlines have increased their number of weekly flights to and from the country. UK company bmi is the best example of this having introduced two daily flights between Tel Aviv and London in the summer. Other airlines that have significantly increased their number of flights and seat capacity to and from Israel include Lufthansa and Alitalia.
In contrast Delta Airlines has reduced its number of flights between Tel Aviv and Atlanta.
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE:ELAL) plans increasing its number of flights during the winter by 8% compared with last winter. There will be a significant increase in the number of El Al flights to the UK and new destinations in Europe will be introduced.
Arkia is planning 18 flights a week for the winter, and Israir 10 flights a week.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 10, 2009
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