High-tech sector steps up with new Israel-US flights as government fails to act

The high-tech forum isn’t waiting for the Ministry of Transportation. Calcalist has learned that the forum is in advanced negotiations to establish a seasonal airline route between Israel and the United States, running from January to March. These flights will be open to the general public and priced comparably to pre-war fares. Part of the proceeds will be donated to social initiatives and organizations working to rebuild Israel.

The initiative was launched in response to numerous requests from businesses and companies urgently needing flights between Israel and New York, as the current availability is limited and prices are extremely high.

An official from the high-tech forum told Calcalist that they are negotiating with three airlines willing to operate this route on a regular basis, three times a week, using large aircraft such as Dreamliners or Airbus models. The operation will use a “wet lease” agreement, which covers expenses for crew, security, ground arrangements, maintenance, and more.

Flights are expected to start in January and run at least through March, with the possibility of extending the service based on demand. This initiative arose from the severe difficulties faced by the industry due to the reduced number of flights currently available to Israel and the cancellation of crucial routes.

To make this route feasible, multiple companies will need to commit to purchasing up to $20,000 in tickets, either directly or for resale to travel agents, which will help secure the airline commitment. Profits from the operation will be shared among participating companies, with additional revenue generated through the sale of cargo space on the flights.

The high-tech forum stated: “There is an ongoing shortage of flights, and currently, there are no solutions for those needing to fly to the U.S. Availability is low, and prices are extremely high. We decided not to wait for solutions from the Ministry of Transport and to take action ourselves. We are opening up this opportunity to the general public and hope to begin ticket sales through travel agents in the coming days. We are committed to fair pricing, comparable to pre-war flights to the U.S. If demand is high, we will work to expand the routes.”