Air Haifa

Air Haifa is an Israeli regional airline headquartered in Haifa and based at Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport. The carrier was established in 2023 and became the first commercial airline founded at Haifa Airport, according to the company and reference material about its formation. It is also described as Israel’s first new airline since the 1990s, giving its launch significance beyond its relatively small initial network. The airline was officially registered on 20 March 2023. Its founding group combined technology entrepreneurship, public administration, financial management, shipping and aviation experience. The principal founders identified in public reference material are Nir Zuk, founder of Palo Alto Networks, and Shai Babad, a former director general of Israel’s Ministry of Finance and former chief executive of the Strauss Group. Other founders include former El Al chief commercial officer Michael Strassburger, former ZIM chief executive Rafi Danieli, former El Al vice president of operations Lior Yavor and former El Al chief executive Gonen Osishkin. The combination of airline executives and business leaders shaped Air Haifa as a purpose-built regional carrier rather than an extension of an established Israeli airline group. Air Haifa began commercial operations on 30 September 2024. Its first operating service connected Tel Aviv with Eilat, a temporary arrangement that continued until 11 October 2024. The airline then moved into its intended Haifa-centered operating pattern, launching flights from Haifa to Eilat on 13 October and to Larnaca, Cyprus, on 14 October. Ticket sales began through the airline’s website on 25 September 2024. The initial network positioned Air Haifa as a convenience-focused alternative for residents of northern Israel, reducing the need to travel south to Ben Gurion Airport for short regional trips. The carrier’s public operating scope includes domestic service to Eilat and international short-haul routes to Cyprus and Greece. Its stated and reported future development has included potential routes to Turkey. Public reference material also describes plans announced for 2026 to introduce service between Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport from late October, with as many as ten daily flights, while increasing activity from Haifa Airport by approximately 40 percent during the 2026–27 winter season. These plans are prospective and may be subject to regulatory, fleet, airport and market conditions. Air Haifa operates turboprop aircraft from the ATR 72-600 family. This aircraft type is suited to short sectors and airports with demand levels that may not support larger narrow-body jets. In early July 2026, the airline announced that it expected to receive two additional ATR 72-600 aircraft. Detailed public information about the full fleet, ownership structure, capitalization, executive appointments and long-term profitability remains limited. Air Haifa’s developing identity is therefore centered on regional connectivity, Haifa Airport, short-haul efficiency and service to northern Israeli travelers rather than on a broad intercontinental network.

Air Haifa was officially registered in Israel on 20 March 2023. Its formation brought together technology entrepreneur Nir Zuk and business executive Shai Babad with several senior figures from Israeli aviation and shipping. The founding group included Michael Strassburger, formerly El Al’s chief commercial officer; Rafi Danieli, formerly chief executive officer of ZIM; Lior Yavor, formerly El Al’s vice president of operations; and Gonen Osishkin, formerly chief executive officer of El Al. This background gave the new carrier access to experience in airline commercial planning, operations, corporate management and transportation markets. The airline was created around Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport, commonly referred to as Haifa Airport. Air Haifa is described as the first commercial airline established at the airport and as Israel’s first new airline since the 1990s. Its strategic rationale was to provide northern Israeli travelers with direct regional and domestic flights from Haifa instead of requiring them to travel to larger airports farther south. The carrier’s short-haul model also suited the airport’s role as a regional gateway. Air Haifa began selling tickets on 25 September 2024 and started commercial operations on 30 September 2024. Its earliest flights ran between Tel Aviv and Eilat until 11 October 2024. The airline subsequently launched its core Haifa-based services: flights from Haifa to Eilat began on 13 October, followed by flights from Haifa to Larnaca in Cyprus on 14 October. The launch established a mix of domestic and international routes and connected northern Israel with both a domestic resort destination and a nearby Mediterranean market. The airline’s published and reported destination scope later included Eilat, Cyprus and Greece, while future plans referenced Turkey as a possible additional market. Air Haifa’s use of ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft reflects its focus on short sectors and regional demand. In early July 2026, the airline announced that it expected two more aircraft of this type. It also described plans for flights between Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport beginning in late October 2026, potentially reaching ten daily flights, alongside an intended increase of roughly 40 percent in Haifa Airport activity during the 2026–27 winter season. Because the airline is a young private carrier, publicly available information remains incomplete regarding its ownership percentages, senior management beyond the founding group, financial performance, fleet totals and long-term route economics. Its documented history to date is primarily the story of a new Israeli airline, the reactivation and expansion of scheduled services from Haifa, and the gradual development of a short-haul network using regional turboprop aircraft.

• 2026

  Expansion plans announced

  [1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  Air Haifa reported plans for additional domestic service, increased Haifa activity and two more ATR 72-600 aircraft.

• 2024

  Ticket sales begin

  [1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  Air Haifa began selling tickets through its website on 25 September 2024 ahead of its commercial launch.

• 2024

  Commercial operations commence

  [1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  The airline began commercial flights on 30 September 2024, initially operating between Tel Aviv and Eilat.

• 2024

  Haifa-based network launches

  [1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  Flights from Haifa to Eilat began on 13 October, followed by Haifa–Larnaca service on 14 October.

• 2023

  Air Haifa is officially registered

  [1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  The company was registered in Israel on 20 March 2023, with a founding group drawn from technology, government, aviation and shipping.

A Haifa-based regional airline focused on convenient short-haul connectivity for northern Israel and nearby eastern Mediterranean markets.

• Passenger airline service · 2024

  Scheduled domestic passenger flights

  Air Haifa’s domestic offering is centered on short-haul scheduled flights within Israel, including service linking Haifa with Eilat. These flights are designed for northern Israeli residents and visitors seeking a direct alternative to overland travel or departure from airports farther south. The use of ATR 72-600 aircraft supports regional frequencies and routes where demand is better suited to a turboprop than to a larger jet.

• Regional passenger airline service · 2024

  Scheduled regional international flights

  The airline’s international product connects Haifa with nearby eastern Mediterranean destinations. Larnaca was among its first international destinations, and reference material identifies Cyprus and Greece within its operating markets. The service targets leisure, visiting-friends-and-relatives and short business travel, with the Haifa base providing a more convenient departure point for passengers in northern Israel.

• Regional aviation equipment and service platform · 2024

  ATR 72-600 regional fleet service

  Air Haifa operates ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft for its regional network. The type is intended for relatively short routes and moderate passenger volumes, allowing the airline to serve regional city pairs with lower capacity than a conventional narrow-body jet. In 2026 the airline reported that it expected two additional aircraft of the same type.

• 2026

  Plan network and fleet expansionStrategy

  Background

  After establishing its initial operations, Air Haifa reported plans to broaden domestic flying and increase activity from its Haifa base.

  Action taken

  The airline announced prospective Ben Gurion–Ramon service from late October, potentially with up to ten daily flights, an approximately 40 percent increase in Haifa Airport activity during winter 2026–27, and the expected delivery of two additional ATR 72-600 aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The reported plans indicate an intention to scale the carrier’s domestic network and fleet, although implementation may depend on operational and regulatory conditions.

  Source

• 2024

  Build a regional airline around Haifa AirportStrategy

  Background

  Air Haifa was established to provide scheduled commercial connectivity from northern Israel and is described as the first commercial airline founded at Haifa Airport.

  Action taken

  The carrier selected Haifa Airport as its hub and focused its initial network on short-haul domestic and eastern Mediterranean routes.

  Aftermath

  The strategy produced a launch network linking Haifa with Eilat and Larnaca, while later reference material identified Cyprus and Greece as operating markets.

  Source

• 2026

  Air Haifa outlines planned network and fleet expansion[1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The airline reported plans for Ben Gurion–Ramon service from late October, up to ten daily flights on that route, increased Haifa Airport activity during the 2026–27 winter season and two additional ATR 72-600 aircraft.

• 2024

  Air Haifa begins commercial operations[1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The airline launched commercial flights on 30 September 2024, initially operating between Tel Aviv and Eilat before shifting activity toward its intended Haifa base.

• 2024

  Air Haifa launches Haifa–Eilat and Haifa–Larnaca services[1]Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Air Haifa introduced flights from Haifa to Eilat on 13 October and to Larnaca on 14 October, establishing its initial hub-oriented network.

1. 1Air Haifaen.wikipedia.org