Green Light for Rami Levy and Israir: Flights to the US Are Taking Off
After a long period of anticipation for federal approvals, the Israeli airline Israir has secured the right to sell tickets to the US. The company has officially opened bookings for flights starting October 19, 2026.
The airline Israir, owned by businessman Rami Levy, has reached a significant milestone in its expansion. Following a comprehensive professional verification process, the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority granted the company the Operations Specifications required to operate its Airbus A330 fleet, purchased for approximately 85 million dollars (about 262 million shekels).
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that on August 14, 2026, the company received additional approval from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to begin selling flight tickets to the United States. Consequently, Israir has decided to open ticket sales for flights departing from October 19, 2026.
As this current approval was granted prior to receiving full operational clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ticket sales are conditional upon Israir bearing full responsibility toward its passengers. Should the final approval not be received in time, passengers will be offered the choice between:
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A full refund.
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A transfer to a comparable alternative flight, including via another airline.
If full operational approval is received earlier than expected, the company will adjust its flight schedule and sales opening accordingly.
