A week after the grounded aircraft affair in Portugal, IDB Tourism Group airline Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. has announced that is buying a new Airbus A-320 aircraft, with 174 seats. The deal is for $45 million.
Israir currently has a fleet of four aircraft, and the new aircraft, which will increase the company’s fleet to five, will begin operating in May 2016.
Israir currently also operates as a tourism-service provider, and sells travel packages using leased aircraft.
The two other Airbus A-320 aircraft in the company’s fleet were purchased in 2013. The new aircraft will make it possible for Israir to fly to new vacation destinations such as the Seychelles Islands and Zanzibar.
Israir has announced that it is preparing to recruit new pilots, following the acquisition of the new aircraft.
It was recently reported that Israir and El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL)are in preliminary talks regarding a possible merger between Israir and Sun D'Or, an El Al unit that operates charter flights. If the deal comes to pass, the merged company is expected to operate as a low-cost airline.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 1, 2015
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