Ex-American Airlines Jets Set To Fly New York–Tel Aviv Route Under Israir
Two Airbus A330-200 aircraft formerly flown by American Airlines are being readied to serve the New York–Tel Aviv route under Israeli carrier Israir, more than three years after American suspended service to Israel following October 7th.
The planes, registered 4X-BAK and 4X-BAL, were purchased by Israir for $74 million, a figure that rises above $80 million once return-to-service costs are included. Both aircraft previously flew for US Airways and American, sat in storage since 2020, passed through aircraft trader Jetran, and were returned to service earlier this summer. 4X-BAK flew from Tucson to Tel Aviv on June 18–19 and is now operating Israir flights to destinations including Varna, while 4X-BAL was ferried to Larnaca, where Israir’s maintenance operation is supporting the widebody program.
Israeli travel company Issta advanced Israir $35 million toward the purchase. In exchange, Issta receives 40 economy seats — nearly 20% of the cabin — on every commercial flight either aircraft operates, for the next ten years.
The planes remain configured as they were under American, with 20 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 206 economy seats.
Israir has successively targeted Pesach, June, the third quarter, and early August for launching the New York route. As of August 11, none of those targets have been met, and no firm start date has been announced.🤬
On the regulatory front, Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority approved Israir’s A330 operation, including North American flying, on July 29. Israir still needs FAA Part 129 authority for U.S. service, along with TSA approval of its foreign carrier security program.
According to the Israel Airports Authority, 1.2 million passengers flew between New York and Tel Aviv in 2025. Six weekly Israir flights at 247 seats each would add roughly 1,482 one-way seats per week, about one-eighth of that nonstop market, with fares remaining elevated (MORE LIKE MONOPOLY RIP OFF) amid ongoing service disruptions.
El Al and Arkia have continued serving New York throughout the disruption period. Delta is scheduled to resume Tel Aviv service September 6, United on September 8, and KLM on August 25, initially with a Larnaca technical stop.
