Last year I first wrote about an Israeli airline startup, with some big names behind it (both in terms of deep pockets and aviation experience). I wanted to share an update, as the airline has just put its first flights on sale, so we now have a sense of what we can expect from the airline. I’m both intrigued and a bit confused.
In this post:
Details of the new airline based at Haifa Airport
Air Haifa is a new airline that’s based at Haifa Airport (HFA), in the north of Israel. Not only is this the first Israeli airline startup since the 1990s, but it’ll also be the first airline to be based in Haifa, which is a useful alternative to flying out of Tel Aviv (TLV), given how busy the airport can get.
There are also some serious people behind the airline, including the former CEO, CCO, and VP of Operations, of EL AL. The biggest shareholder of this new airline is Nir Zuk, founder of Palo Alto Networks.
So, what’s the business plan?
- Air Haifa will operate out of Haifa Airport, year-round to destinations in the Mediterranean and Red Sea; initial destinations will include Eilat (ETM) and Larnaca (LCA)
- Air Haifa will operate a fleet of ATR 72-600 turboprops, in a single cabin layout, with 72 seats in a 2-2 configuration; the first aircraft has already been delivered
- Air Haifa describes its fares as “simple, affordable, and convenient air travel,” as they just include a personal item, and then you have to pay for full size carry-on bags, checked bags, and seat assignments
- Air Haifa has the goal of “bringing economic opportunity to the three million Israelis who live in the north of the country”
- Air Haifa is marketing convenience as a major draw of flying with the airline — “instead of a long drive to the airport and arriving three hours before the flight to wait on lines and at the gate, our passengers will enjoy the convenience of flying internationally from their local airport and getting from their doorstep to onboard the airplane in less than 90 minutes”
- For those curious about the company’s logo, it’s a pine cone, which are common in the region where the airline is based
So, with Air Haifa now selling tickets, what’s pricing looking like? Air Haifa will launch flights to Eilat as of October 13, 2024, and to Larnaca as of October 14, 2024. Fares are very reasonable, and start at just $64 one-way. Fares include a personal item, plus free flight changes.
Then you’ll pay extra for hand baggage, checked baggage, and seat selection. For example, seat assignments start at $2, while checked bags start at $30.
This is certainly a unique airline startup…
In so many parts of the world we see airline startups basically replicating one another, and not bringing much to the table. So in that sense, Air Haifa deserves a lot of credit, as it’s not your conventional airline startup.
Currently, Haifa Airport only sees a very limited amount of seasonal airline traffic, and it’s otherwise a general aviation airport. So having an extensive network out of a convenient airport is good for consumers.
The challenge with Haifa Airport is that the runway is only 4,324 feet long. This means that in its current form, the airport can only accommodate turboprops. That also explains why Air Haifa doesn’t have plans to fly any jets.
On the surface, launching an airline with planes that don’t have great per-seat operating costs may seem counterintuitive. But I think what the airline is doing makes sense — it has access to a huge market, and hopes to offer the combination of convenience and good value. In the long run, don’t expect Ryanair or Wizz Air pricing here, though.
The general challenge, in my opinion, is that it seems like there are only so many markets the airline can fly to. The ATR 72-600 has a maximum range of around 850 miles. Of course you also need fuel reserves, and that doesn’t factor in headwinds, plus Israeli airlines having to avoid a lot of airspace.
For example, below is a map showing a range of 750 miles from Haifa, which is probably realistically as far as the airline can fly, and even that might be pushing it.
I can’t help but wonder how many markets this realistically leaves, especially on a year-round basis. I know the focus is on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, so will the airline just fly primarily to Greece and Cyprus, or…?
It’ll be interesting to see how this project develops. There are plans for Haifa Airport to eventually be expanded, with a longer runway. So I suppose Air Haifa is playing the long game here, and recognizes that this is a region with a sizable population, so there’s a lot of growth potential.
Bottom line
Air Haifa is an airline startup that’s based at Israel’s Haifa Airport. The airline will shortly be launching operations, initially flying to Eilat and Larnaca. It’s interesting to see an airline flying turboprops in this way, since that’s not exactly ideal in terms of low per-seat operating costs, plus potential range. Then again, there’s not much of an option here, given the length of the runway in Haifa.
What’s your take on Air Haifa?
In these times, who cares about this kind of news. I believe it is inappropriate. It doesn't matter who one is or what is one's religion.
That's just my comment.
In your warped mind Israel is an apartheid settler whatever. But that's what makes you hateful. You deny the Jewish people their heritage and history. You claim repatriation is colonialism. You ignore the apartheid in Arab countries and claim israel, with 2 million loyal Muslim citizens, is apartheid. In short, your version of justice is hate and destruction to Jews.
Can the ATR make it one way to The Hague?
Can you make it to a library? Read a book. Don't be an ignorant antisemite.
Air Tahiti uses the ATR72-600 to fly 1,028 miles PPT - GMR. Load restrictions, extra fuel tanks? Charter flights to Athens or other Greek places may not be out of the question.
20 comments and counting!
One suspects that if the subject airline startup was based in Iceland, The Faroe Islands or Maui then less than a handful of comments would be received.
Antisemitism is rife here on these pages and the comments sadly reflect that fact.
Shame on those who choose any means available to them for their vitriolic purposes.
Well, given the political situation in the region and the nature of Israel's neighbors make such an airline appear to be limited in potential. So, it's a fairly interesting thing to discuss...don't you think?
You of course might well think that …. I couldn’t possibly comment.
No
The potential range is mostly countries where they cannot fly do basically Cyprus and Greece. Given the situation there it not an ideal time to start an airline in Israel. Give them a few months.
I just wouldn’t feel safe flying out of there particularly these days
Air Haifa have had to move to TLV for the time being anyways... New Israeli airline Air Haifa forced to shift launch plans amid northern fighting https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/bk2ei6atc
Now for all its lauded military prowess the last 355 days have proven that the State of Israel is NOTHING without its USD3,000,000,000 (billion with a B) annual welfare check from the US taxpayer. If Israel is such an independent economic powerhouse why do taxpayers in Madison, Wisconsin...
Air Haifa have had to move to TLV for the time being anyways... New Israeli airline Air Haifa forced to shift launch plans amid northern fighting https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/bk2ei6atc
Now for all its lauded military prowess the last 355 days have proven that the State of Israel is NOTHING without its USD3,000,000,000 (billion with a B) annual welfare check from the US taxpayer. If Israel is such an independent economic powerhouse why do taxpayers in Madison, Wisconsin & Fort Mill, South Carolina have to contribute to their budgetary coffers each and every year..
I speak as a Sephardi Jew with family across Israel, the US and Australia; don't bother with your tired worn-out insults kelevim
Israel is fighting America’s enemies for them. Of course America should be subsidizing us!
Air Haifa? Really? What if evacuation orders come to Haifa itself? Perhaps Air Haifa could ferry refugees south?
Let the Hate Flow!
Ben it is nice you don't generally block or censure people. But perhaps you can make an exception for vicnc who is calling for Israel to expire?
It's clear by this point that he's on the side of the antisemites. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the German tree.
He's Jewish, you idiot.
A “Jew for Palestine,” clearly.
I get your point, that anti-zionist Jews exist, which is important - not everyone supports Israel and its genocidal project but Ben isn't Jewish. A lot of people assume he is because he doesn't eat pork but it's not for that reason as he's explained before.
I don't think settler-colonial apartheid states should exist true, just like settler-colonial apartheid South Africa should never have existed. The latter came to an end thankfully and so will Israel. It's telling you think differently and don't want injustice to end.
Jews are the indigenous people of Israel. Arabs are the settlers and colonists.
Yes white Ashkenazis from Eastern Europe prone to skin cancer in the harsh Levantine sun are definitely indigenous to that land, definitely...
Begs the question will these aircraft be fitted with any defensive countermeasures like El Al, I understand that’s a major consideration these days!
By law, all Israeli-registered a/c must be fitted with such measures.
It is truly a shame vicnc time has not expired.
Filthy anti-semite.
If you can point to anything antisemitic I have said please do tell, but as usual you will throw about that term without qualifying because if you do you will expose the ridiculousness and bad faith nature of it.
A very nice way to burn money, given Israel itself is on borrowed time...
LOL keep dreaming bud
It's American tax money that's burning. They don't care.
If it is, the goat lickers that surround it are on borrowed time as well.
@stogieguy7: you really can't help yourselves with the racism, keep going, winning lots of friends!
The direct flights from Tel Aviv to Cairo have been suspended, but some day they will return. Likewise, to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh.
they can never operate flights to cairo as long as they are
fighting with arab nations with so much hated and revengeful
vendetta. Saudi Arabia s prince Salman has told israel that
until palestinians are given back their occupied territories to
palestinians no arab nation will sign treaty with israel
they are getting support from u s a with men, money and material
3m. they cannot operate to busy...
they can never operate flights to cairo as long as they are
fighting with arab nations with so much hated and revengeful
vendetta. Saudi Arabia s prince Salman has told israel that
until palestinians are given back their occupied territories to
palestinians no arab nation will sign treaty with israel
they are getting support from u s a with men, money and material
3m. they cannot operate to busy markets like
kuwait bahrain, saudi, doha, oman etc. they cannot make much
money with limited no of cities and short sectors.
They could do a tie up with Aegean and offer connections via LCA and/or ATH. Having a virtual monopoly on the local airport means that it should be pretty easy to fill the planes profitably as long as they can arrive at a formula that works. If Eastern Airways can do that with AF and EMA, which is barely 50km away from BHX (with multiple daily flights on AF and Hop!), it shouldn't be a problem for Haifa.
But ATH isn't within the range Ben drew up.
Sorry, I guess it is right around the 750 mile mark. Seems like a challenge.
Yeah if they could somehow get the range to safely cover ATH, then that opens up a lot of 1-stop opportunities via a partnership with A3.
Looks like it can hit IST, if Israel and Turkiye ever get on speaking terms again...