Update: airHaifa has been operating out of Ben Gurion Airport since its launch due to the security situation in the north. Thanks to the current ceasefire, the airline will begin its inaugural service from Haifa-Larnaca and Haifa-Eilat service on 12/22/24 followed by Haifa-Athens on 1/2/25.
You can save 15% on flights from 1/6/25-8/30/25 by using coupon code (Exp: 12/10 at 11:59pm IST): HFA15
For example, a flight from Haifa to Larnaca on 1/7 will be $43.70 after the code.
The code must be entered and applied on the search page, but the discount will only show up on the final checkout page.
Originally posted on 9/25:
airHaifa will finally get off the ground next week after receiving its operating license from Israel’s Transportation Ministry.
The low-cost carrier is based out of Haifa Airport (HFA), which features a runway that is only 4,324 feet long. That limits the plane size and range of destinations, which has left Haifa without much air service.
The airline will fly 3 ATR 72-600 propeller planes to make that runway work. The flipside of that is low-cost carriers typically avoid small planes, as they’re costlier to operate on a per-seat basis. However the ATR is significantly more fuel and cost-efficient to operate than other regional jets.
Unfortunately with the war in the north, flying into Haifa isn’t currently possible.
The current plans are to fly between Tel Aviv and Eilat starting on September 30th through October 11th. On October 13th, the airline plans to move their operations up north and fly from Haifa to Eilat and Larnaca. Of course that move will be highly dependant on the state of Operation Northern Arrows and airspace restrictions at that time.
With crew and planes already lined up, the airline can’t afford to wait until the situation in the north calms down, so it will fly from Tel Aviv until it can move to Haifa.
A one-way flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat currently sells for 99 shekels, or about $26. A one-way flight from Haifa to Eilat currently sells for 139 shekels, or about $37. A one-way flight from Haifa to Larnaca currently sells for 239 shekels, or about $63. The airline features free changes and the ability to cancel a flight for future flight credit up to 24 hours before departure.
The airline features several familiar names from pre-Rozenberg era El Al including former El Al CEO Gonen Usishkin, who is the co-founder and CEO of airHaifa, former El Al CCO and former Sun d’OR CEO Mickey Strassburger, who is the co-founder and EVP commercial at airHaifa, and former El Al Chief Pilot and VP of Operations Lior Yavor, who is the co-founder and EVP operations at airHaifa.
Will you fly on airHaifa?
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52 Comments On "[Haifa Flights Start In 2 Weeks, Save 15% On Flights] Israel’s Newest Airline, airHaifa, Takes To The Skies"
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Shabbos friendly?
unfortunately not
Unfortunately not. I believe this should go down from a frum publication
BTW… Some of the top officials are most definitely Shomer Shabbat… Please remember there are those that keep Shabbat and those that don’t keep Shabbat YET! Before judging where the news of this new and alternative airline should be posted let’s think of those who do need to flee from the north that are Shomer Shabbat, with those that need to get to their loved ones up north. They may not fly on Shabbat but there will be available room for them on flights both before and after that have never been available before!
I’m not sure who stated that they are not Shomer Shabbos, their flight schedule does not offer flights on Shabbos, or Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur for that matter. If anyone is aware of the fact that they are not Shomer Shabbos, for example a statement or the like, please post here or attach link.
https://www.airhaifa.com/flight-results/HFA-LCA/2025-01-04/2025-01-10/1/0/0
Who cares if they are shomer shabbat? There is no Halacha to monitor the senior management of a businesses religious practices. Strangest thread Ive ever seen.
And the guy who asked the original question above probably owns a nursing home that serves chazir to old people who are poorly treated and has done a tour of duty in Ottisville for medicare fraud but he is worried about whether a particular airline flys on shabbas. Ok makes sense
Wouldn’t like to support anyone who disgraces Hashem and isn’t shomer Shabbos
That probably limits everything you do and buy in your life. Do you also monitor their business practices to be sure they aren’t acting in a way that is chilul Hashem?
In full agreement!
Yes. They do not require passengers to fly on shabbos.
It might be worth it to get to Lanarca and fly on from there. The only question is how much baggage allowance there is.
Possibility to add baggage for $36 however only for 20kg
Wish they would add more airports like…FCO, ATH, VIE, VCE, OTP, PRG
ATH is def the closest major hub would be smart for them to cash in..
All out of range for the prop plane except ATH.
There are many factors that a airline can take into account:
The closes comparable in fuel efficiency, is Embraer E-170 has a significantly longer range compared to the ATR 72-600. The E-170 can fly more than twice as far as the ATR 72-600, “740 NM vs 2100 NM”
The average purchase price of a new ATR 72-600 is $26,000,000. Vs Embraer ERJ 170 is only $9,950,000
Embraer E-170 has a 66 to 78 seats (in various configurations) ATR 72-600 has 70 seats.
It’s important to note that turboprops like the ATR 72-600 are generally more fuel-efficient than regional jets, “but only on shorter routes” The ATR 72-600 burns about 45% less fuel compared to E-170 regional jet, however for longer trips the fuel efficiency numbers are closer, and for example: TLV > ATH distance it may make more sense to use E-170
If you lease a very fuel efficient plane you can save on gas and pay more for the lease, depending on lease price and fuel prices at that time… it’s not always clear cut.
E170 for 9.9M is dead
Best comment of the year!
*The average purchase price of a new ATR 72-600 is $26,000,000. Vs Embraer ERJ 170 is $26,000,000
Not sure why no other israel based low cost carrier is competing with EL AL,
And No, Arkia is part of EL AL, and Israir is are not competing with EL AL, they just jack up the price with less to offer)
In addition, while we americans taxpayers are subsidizing the defense budget that helps EL AL run smooth while in war, so they can overcharge us…
Go ahead, open an airline.
Agree, thank you Yelp. Eli, poster above, you are NOT helping with your tax dollars for israel war efforts, and maybe you should. US unfortunately is also stopping sending weapons, puchased by Israel for full cost. We should all Help cost of such expensive war operations, buy Israel Government Bonds. war is super expensive. (not talking about all lives we are paying daily). During such difficult times, being humble and looking how to help with your cash, is probably more correct that criticize an airline for their pricing. You always have the option not to go.
Ayin Tova, we are not debating about how much the US government should or shouldn’t spend, Eli is merely pointing out that as an airline that benefits from the tax funded protection like iron dome, and government assurance while in war, subsidized by both the Israeli and the US government via the “People’s taxes”, they should also think about their customers and how it’s effecting their financials, it’s hard for everyone with inflation though the roof.
Yes, ElAl can do whatever they want, as their is currently no real competition, but after the war we will remember what ElAl did to us when they had the Monopoly!
each and every industry is affected and they’re hiking up the prices and taking advantage of the situation, it is no longer affordable to enter Israel via direct flight, The entire tourist industry is suffering except El Al
Here’s the corrected version with fixed spelling and grammar:
Ayin Tova, we are not debating about how much the US government should or shouldn’t spend. Eli is merely pointing out that as an airline that benefits from tax-funded protection like Iron Dome, and government assurance during war, subsidized by both the Israeli and the US governments via the people’s taxes, they should also think about their customers and how it’s affecting their financials. It’s hard for everyone with inflation through the roof.
Yes, El Al can do whatever they want, as there is currently no real competition, but after the war, we will remember what El Al did to us when they had the monopoly!
Each and every industry is affected, and they’re hiking up the prices and taking advantage of the situation. It is no longer affordable to enter Israel via direct flight. The entire tourist industry is suffering except El Al.
I support Israel in any way I could. I will state certain facts.
1, The iron dome would offer some protection to all airlines, not just ElAl.
2, People have always made excuses to throw hate on LY and fly competitors. This website has often featured other airlines and that is fair. To state that “after the war, we will remember what El Al did to us” is just not accurate. People will always fly lower cost alternatives.
3, ElAl does have certain safety advantages that I know of. These same devices are available to any airline that wants them.
Opening an airline is a great way to become a millionaire if you start with 10 million.
Is a millionaires net worth more or less than 10 million?
Btw Arkia isn’t part of El Al rather their competitor
This is a great but how hard is it to extend the runway to whatever standard length is? I bet they could do that within a month. This is a game changer and necessary for people who live in Haifa, Nahariya, Tiberias and the Golan/Galil. At a minimum if you had a steady stream of flights from European locations to Haifa you could transfer in Europe and be closer to home when you land.
You need to have space to expand the runway and there isn’t any.
You do need a straight line of land to extend the runway. Not mountains. Not nearby structures.
My chavrussa lives in Larnaca while I live near Haifa, hope to take full advantage.
How are you a moderator?
Do you work for ABC?
Can you pay with points?
what id do you need to fly domestic in israel ?
Passport, national ID card (teudat zehut), or driver’s license. If you’re a foreign citizen best to bring your passport.
Bravo to this amazing new airline, Air Haifa and its insightful team of outstanding professionals! We have waited too long to have an accessible airport for those in the north! The convenience and cost will allow new opportunities for so many of our citizens!
Don’t expect the service to be any better than Arkia or Israir
absolutely not!
No I would not. To me it seems ATR 72 is not a safe plane. One drops out of the sky on avg each year and only 900 of them total in service. All recent major accidents that come to mind were ATR 72s, Brazil this summer, yeti last year, Iran and Pakistan in the prior years and before that the Taiwan bridge with another in Tepai six months before that.
The ability to fly to Lanarca and then connect from there may create lots of new affordable travel opportunities for Israelis. This may become a great way to achieve low cost overseas vacations.
Important to take into account who one of the the cofounders of Air Haifa are.
former ELAL CEO Gonen Ussishkin who didn’t miss an opportunity to miss a opportunity,
And brought a very anti charedi vibe to the airline, besides for bringing the Airline to its worst financial state.
Any charedi that flew ELAL the last couple of years can feel the difference since his DEPARTURE:)
ELAL is so nice to fly now!
True
Air Haifa do not fly on shabbos. I just checked their flight schedule
https://www.airhaifa.com/flight-results/HFA-LCA/2025-01-04/2025-01-10/1/0/0
If they’re able to keep these low prices and not just have them as special inaugural pricing, together with the great flexibility to change and cancel – they will be around for a long time.
However with horrible customer service they’ll be like Israir and Arkia
Q
How safe is aircraft ?
2 price for 23 kg suitcase?
3 how to connect from Haifa to yerushalayim?
Most important
Safety of aircraft?
1. Is a nonsense question.
2. 70 shekels
3. Railways or a direct bus
$36 for suit case if you pay in advance $72 at the airport however the allowance is 20kg only not 23kg if you come with 23kg you’ll pay a hefty fee it’s designed to scam the public
A website in English would help appeal to international travelers priced out / sold out from taking El Al.