Israir opens Moscow route

The carrier will join El Al as the only Israeli airliner to fly to Russia
 
Israel Katz, Israel's Minister of Transport and Road Safety, granted last week Israir Airlines with designated carrier status, to operate regular flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow.
 
Katz noted in a press release that Israir Airlines will join El AL Israel Airways on the route. He added that negotiations on permission for a second Israeli operator between Ben-Gurion Airport and Moscow followed a bilateral agreement signed several years ago with the Russian Authorities.
 
The Minister added that "The nomination of Israir airlines as designated carrier on the Moscow route will increase competition and frequencies and will reduce air-fares. At present over half a million passengers per year travel between the two cities. The nomination of additional airline will enable more passengers to use the route."
 
El Al offers 17 weekly flights on the Tel Aviv – Moscow route and Transaero Airlines has 21 weekly flights, between Moscow and Tel Aviv Yafo.