Israir CEO: "We will not be the 'nebbish'. This is going to be something completely different"
Ahead of the launch of the new direct route to New York, Israir CEO Uri Sirkis discusses in an exclusive interview the preparations, the timeline for regulatory approval, and the competitive pricing strategy.
Preparations at Israir for the launch of the new route to New York are in full swing. On Tuesday, the airline's CEO, Uri Sirkis, flew to the USA for a short visit to finalize the details before operating the route. Notably, he traveled on El Al flights.
As previously reported, Israir and Rami Levy have received official approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel and the US Department of Transportation. The company is now awaiting final clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In an exclusive conversation with ice, Uri Sirkis stated:
"Approval could be received any day, but it could also take a few weeks or more. We are prepared to operate the route within 3 days of receiving the final green light."
According to Sirkis, the licensing process in the US is rigorous and can take up to 90 days. "We are working hard and hope to receive the approval as quickly as possible," he added.
Sirkis emphasized that the US route will offer an experience different from what Israir customers are accustomed to, potentially exceeding current standards in Israel. He cited Emirates as a benchmark for the service level they aim to achieve.
"We are not going to be the 'nebbish'. We will surprise the market and provide service at a different level. This is not going to be just another route; it is going to be something completely different."
The CEO further noted that the airline intends to open ticket sales as soon as approval is granted. "We will start selling at a competitive price, and the route will begin operations even if the planes are not yet full. We are just waiting for the final word from US authorities, and we will set off at peak speed."
