The maiden flight took off from Haifa to Eilat in a ceremonial ceremony attended by the Minister of Transportation, the Director General of the Airports Authority, the Director of Haifa Airport and the Mayor of Haifa
Air Haifa, the first airline based in Haifa, celebrated today (Sunday) in a ceremony the beginning of its commercial operations from Haifa International Airport. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Brigadier General Miri Regev, Director General of the Airports Authority, Sharon Kadami, Mayor of Haifa, Mr. Yona Yahav, Director of Haifa Airport, Meir Cohen and the founders of the company.
The ribbon cutting ceremony marks the launch of the first airline to operate from the northern region – and the first to be established in Israel in three decades. As part of the launch event, the guests watched the traditional clearance ceremony of the company’s plane before it took off to Ramon Airport. In preparation for the start of commercial activity, infrastructure works were completed at Haifa International Airport with an investment of tens of millions of shekels, which included a comprehensive renovation of the runway, upgrading the operating systems and training additional parking lots. In addition, biometric checkpoints were installed for international flights.
With the start of commercial operations from Haifa, the company will operate up to two daily flights to Eilat at a price starting at NIS 189 each way and three daily flights to Larnaca at a price starting at $49 each way. In January 2025, the company will launch a flight line to Athens that will operate five times a week – at a price starting at $149 per direction. As part of the development of Haifa International Airport, Egged will start operating the new 100 service Frequently every 30 minutes from the Hafaretz Central Station, which is the integrated transportation hub connected to Israel Railways, buses, metro and cable cars.
The Minister of Transportation and Road Safety Brigadier General Miri Regev welcomed the start of Air Haifa’s operations: “I congratulate Air Haifa for joining the Israeli aviation industry, which keeps the skies open to and from Israel, even on the most difficult days. In the past year, we have learned how critical the activity of our airlines is to maintain functional continuity, and the ability to bring Israelis home in any situation. The return to operation of Haifa Airport is another step back to normalcy and growth – and to strengthening the northern region. I believe that soon we will also see a recovery in tourism, and Haifa Airport will be a part of it,” she said.
Miki Strasburger, one of the founders of Air Haifa, stated that “This is a historic and exciting moment for the residents of the North and for the people of Air Haifa. After a long wait and extensive preparation, we are proud to start regular operations from Haifa International Airport. The support and trust we have received from the public and the authorities strengthens our commitment and hope to provide Comfortable, safe and accessible aviation services for residents of the northern region and Eilat, and to make the dream of flying from the north a reality daily’.
The mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, said: “In the last Rabin government, I served as the personal assistant of the then Minister of Transportation, the late Gadi Yacovi. Here, in this exact place, stood a small and dilapidated hut, worse than the huts I knew in Scouts. It was the passenger port and airport of Haifa. I came to him, to Minister Jacobi, and convinced him to come here. When we arrived, I told him: “Let’s get rid of this shack and build something proper.” Thus, the process was started that eventually led to the construction of the complex you see today. And here, now, when the minister wants to expand the place, to turn it into something bigger and more significant, I know that the entire north is facing a dramatic change. The north is going to be completely different. We aim to make Haifa and the entire region a leading tourist center, a city that hosts and serves as a gateway to the entire northern region. I thank all the amazing people who work tirelessly to strengthen Air Haifa. Together we will continue to lead this vision forward.’
The CEO of the Airports Authority, Sharon Kadami, also spoke and said that the “Iron Swords” war presented us with heavy challenges, not only in the security and personal sense, but also in the transportation and aviation systems. Haifa Airport had to shut down its operations for a while. The port’s return to activity once again proves the strength of the northern region and its ability to develop and grow, despite all the challenges. I am sure that Air Haifa will lead us to a future where Haifa will be a significant aviation center, connecting us all to the greater world and to economic and social prosperity.’
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