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Air Haifa, a new low-cost airline, completed its inaugural flight on the Tel Aviv-Larnaca route yesterday morning. Upon returning from Larnaca, passengers were surprised to find the flight nearly empty, a rare occurrence during this peak travel season for the Israeli aviation industry.
As reported by Globes, the empty plane highlights ongoing challenges in the sector, particularly after recent security escalations that have resulted in numerous flight cancellations and increased reliance on a limited number of airlines still operating in Israel.
Less than a week prior, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its recommendation against flying in Israeli airspace, initially issued following the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in late September. This recommendation had exacerbated existing flight cancellations, prompting many airlines to suspend operations in Israel.
Despite EASA's decision, three airlines—Air France, Neos, and Aegean—announced yesterday they would continue their suspension of flights to Israel, joining Wizz Air and Lot, which also halted operations recently.
Air Haifa's maiden flight did not originate from Haifa Airport as planned, but from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, raising questions about the airline's operational viability and security concerns. Industry experts have expressed skepticism regarding the future of Haifa Airport due to its limited infrastructure and runway constraints, as well as the sustainability of Air Haifa's low-cost model, which relies on smaller aircraft with fewer seats.
Some tickets for Air Haifa’s return flight from Larnaca were reportedly sold for as low as $60, making the service appealing to Israelis stranded abroad due to other airlines’ cancellations. In contrast, Romanian airline Bees Airlines successfully filled its inaugural flight from Bucharest to Ben Gurion Airport in September.
Aviation sources indicate that the drop in demand for Air Haifa's flights is linked to the approaching Sukkot holiday and the ongoing military escalation, which has influenced Israelis' travel decisions, particularly amid the mobilization of reserve soldiers.
In other aviation news, Arkia has introduced a new direct route to Manchester, while Cyprus Airways has resumed flights to Israel, and Air Seychelles is expected to follow suit.
Security concerns at Ben Gurion Airport have also risen, with an increase in passengers attempting to carry weapons onboard. Recent figures show that various weapons were discovered in the hand luggage of dozens of passengers in September, a trend that has intensified in recent days amid heightened security tensions and a rise in civilians carrying handguns.
[Information sourced from Globes]
