Palestine Airways
A short-lived airline established in Mandatory Palestine that operated regional passenger and charter services from 1937 until 1940.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Palestine Airways was an early airline established in Mandatory Palestine during the development of civil aviation in the region. The company was founded by Pinhas Rutenberg with institutional support from the Histadrut and the Jewish Agency, and was registered as a private aviation enterprise on 18 December 1934. Its Hebrew name, Netivey Avir Eretz Yisrael, can be translated as “Land of Israel Airways,” while its Arabic name described it more directly as an airline company in Palestine. The airline’s commercial operation began on 11 August 1937 from a base at Haifa. Its first scheduled service connected Haifa with Lydda three times each week. This route was curtailed after several months as worsening Arab-Jewish hostilities increased the security risk associated with the overland journey between Tel Aviv, the principal Jewish population center, and Lydda Airport through predominantly Arab areas. The interruption illustrates how political and security conditions shaped the practical geography of air transport in Mandatory Palestine. In 1937, the British Government’s Air Ministry took over the airline, reportedly with the intention that it might eventually be returned to private ownership. From July of that year through August 1940, Palestine Airways operated under the aegis of Imperial Airways. Imperial Airways supplied or supported important operational functions, including aircraft crewing, maintenance, and passenger check-in. This arrangement gave the small carrier access to the infrastructure and expertise of a major British aviation organization while leaving Palestine Airways as a distinct local operating entity. In 1938, the airline transferred its main base to the newly constructed Tel Aviv Airport, later known as Sde Dov. It then concentrated on a Tel Aviv–Haifa service, operated twice daily with de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft. The route was subsequently extended from Haifa to Beirut, creating a cross-border regional connection. The company also operated services to Larnaca and conducted charter flights to Egypt. Passenger traffic reached its highest reported level in 1938, when the airline carried approximately 6,400 passengers. Its fleet was small and composed of light twin-engine aircraft. The initial equipment consisted of two five-seat Short Scion monoplanes. In 1938 the airline added an eight-seat de Havilland Dragon Rapide and a ten-seat Short Scion Senior landplane, the latter derived from a floatplane design. The aircraft were suited to short regional sectors, charter work, and communications rather than large-scale intercontinental transport. Palestine Airways ended operations in August 1940 after its aircraft were requisitioned by the Royal Air Force for wartime transport and communications duties. One Short Scion Senior subsequently serving with the RAF was lost in action on 22 September 1943. The airline therefore existed as a commercial carrier for only a few years, but it occupies an important place in the history of civil aviation in Palestine because it linked local airports with nearby destinations and operated during a period when aviation infrastructure, political conflict, and British strategic priorities were closely intertwined.
History
Palestine Airways emerged during the expansion of civilian aviation in Mandatory Palestine. Pinhas Rutenberg established the company with the participation of the Histadrut and the Jewish Agency, and it was formally registered as a private aviation company on 18 December 1934. Imperial Airways assisted the enterprise, reflecting the importance of British aviation expertise and infrastructure to a small local carrier. Commercial services did not begin immediately. On 11 August 1937, the airline began flying from Haifa to Lydda three times per week. The service was short-lived in its original form. Increasing Arab-Jewish violence made the overland journey from Tel Aviv to Lydda Airport increasingly hazardous because it crossed areas with an Arab majority. As a result, the Lydda connection was discontinued after several months. The company’s institutional position changed in 1937, when the British Government’s Air Ministry took it over. The stated objective was eventually to return the airline to private hands, but the carrier operated under British control and under Imperial Airways’ aegis for the remainder of its commercial existence. Imperial Airways’ personnel and systems were involved in flying, aircraft maintenance, and passenger check-in. In 1938, Palestine Airways moved its main base from Haifa to the newly constructed Tel Aviv Airport, which was later renamed Sde Dov. The airline then developed a twice-daily Tel Aviv–Haifa service using de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft. The service was extended through Haifa to Beirut, while the company also handled flights to Larnaca and charter operations to Egypt. These routes made Palestine Airways a regional carrier rather than merely a local shuttle operator. Its reported peak year was 1938, when it carried about 6,400 passengers. The fleet remained modest. Two five-seat, twin-engine Short Scion monoplanes formed the initial equipment. In 1938, the airline acquired an eight-seat de Havilland Dragon Rapide and a ten-seat Short Scion Senior landplane. The larger aircraft supported the Larnaca route and Egyptian charter flights. The aircraft were appropriate for short sectors and relatively low passenger volumes, but the airline did not develop into a large long-haul operator. The outbreak and escalation of the Second World War altered the airline’s prospects. In August 1940, its aircraft were requisitioned by the Royal Air Force for transport and communications duties, bringing Palestine Airways’ commercial operation to an end. At least one of the aircraft later used by the RAF was lost in action: the Short Scion Senior was destroyed on 22 September 1943. Palestine Airways thus had a brief operating life, but its services formed part of the early history of scheduled air transport in Palestine and demonstrate how civil aviation in the territory was affected by security conditions, British administrative control, and wartime mobilization.
- 1943
Short Scion Senior lost in RAF service
[1]A Short Scion Senior associated with the airline and later operated by the RAF was lost in action on 22 September 1943.
- 1940
Commercial operations end
[1]Palestine Airways ceased operations in August after its aircraft were requisitioned by the Royal Air Force.
- 1938
Base transferred to Tel Aviv Airport
[1]The airline moved its main base to the newly built Tel Aviv Airport and established a twice-daily Tel Aviv–Haifa service.
- 1938
Route network extended to Beirut
[1]The Haifa service was extended to Beirut, while operations also included Larnaca and charter flights to Egypt.
- 1938
Peak reported passenger year
[1]The airline carried approximately 6,400 passengers, its highest reported annual total.
- 1937
Commercial flying begins from Haifa
[1]On 11 August 1937, the airline started a scheduled Haifa–Lydda service operating three times weekly.
- 1937
Air Ministry assumes control
[1]The British Government’s Air Ministry took over the company while it operated with Imperial Airways support.
- 1934
Company registered as a private aviation enterprise
[1]Palestine Airways was registered on 18 December 1934 with the support of Pinhas Rutenberg, the Histadrut, and the Jewish Agency.
Products and positioning
A small regional airline serving domestic and nearby international routes in Mandatory Palestine, operating with British aviation support and light twin-engine aircraft.
Passenger aviation · 1937
Scheduled regional passenger services
Palestine Airways operated short-haul scheduled services within Mandatory Palestine. Its principal mature route was the Tel Aviv–Haifa connection, flown twice daily in 1938 with de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft. An earlier Haifa–Lydda service was discontinued after security conditions made the associated overland journey from Tel Aviv to Lydda increasingly dangerous.
International passenger aviation · 1938
Beirut regional service
The airline extended its route from Haifa to Beirut, giving Palestine Airways a regional international connection beyond the territory of Mandatory Palestine. The service was operated as part of the carrier’s short-haul network during its period of activity under British and Imperial Airways support.
International passenger aviation · 1938
Larnaca service
Palestine Airways used its larger aircraft for service to Larnaca. The route formed part of the airline’s regional network and demonstrated its role in connecting Palestine with nearby eastern Mediterranean destinations.
Charter aviation · 1938
Charter flights to Egypt
The carrier also conducted charter flights to Egypt. These operations complemented its scheduled services and used the larger aircraft acquired in 1938, including the de Havilland Dragon Rapide and Short Scion Senior.
Brand decisions
1940
End commercial operations after aircraft requisitionOtherBackground
The Second World War increased the military demand for aircraft capable of transport and communications work.
Action taken
The airline’s aircraft were taken over by the Royal Air Force, and Palestine Airways ceased commercial operations in August.
Aftermath
The carrier did not resume commercial flying. Its former aircraft continued in wartime service, including a Short Scion Senior later lost in action in 1943.
1938
Move the principal base to Tel Aviv AirportStrategyBackground
The initial Haifa–Lydda service was undermined by deteriorating security conditions affecting the overland journey between Tel Aviv and Lydda.
Action taken
Palestine Airways moved its main base to the newly built Tel Aviv Airport and focused on a frequent Tel Aviv–Haifa service.
Aftermath
The reorientation supported the airline’s principal domestic route and was followed by an extension from Haifa to Beirut.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/palestine-airways · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled