Ministry of Transport anticipates a 13% increase in foreign airlines' flights this winter

The CAA had granted permission for a total of 53 foreign carriers to operate regular passenger flights in and out of the country, including six new companies
 
Israel's Ministry of Transport reported last week that it anticipated a 13% increase in foreign airlines' flights to and out of Israel in the upcoming winter tourist months,compared with last winter. The winter season started in Israel last week.
               
According to the Ministry, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had granted permission for a total of 53 foreign carriers to operate regular passenger flights in and out of the country in the 2010-2011 winter season, enabling a total of 370 weekly flights. The Ministry noted that those figures do not include flights operated by Israeli airlines El -AlIsrael Airlines Ltd, ArkiaAirlines Ltd.and Israir Airlines.
 
Six new companies will begin operating to and out of Israel in the upcoming season: Germanwings, which will operate passanger flights between Tel Aviv and Cologne, Spanair will operate flights between Tel Aviv and Barcelona, Air Ukraine will operate Tel Aviv - Kiev flights, Cimber Sterling will operate flights between Tel Aviv - Copenhagen, Armavia will operate flights between Tel Aviv - Yerevan and easyJet will introduce flight from Tel Aviv - Basle and Tel Aviv Geneva to add to its Tel Aviv - Luton flights.
 
Minister of Transport Israel Katz said that El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. will have 7% more flights this winter compared with last winter. Katz added that Arkia Airlines Ltd. would have 12 weekly flights to overseas destinations and Israir seven weekly flights. Israir Airlinesis the second largest Israeli carrier operating a fleet of Airbus 320, Boeing 767-300 and 757 aircraft and ATR'SArkiaAirlines Ltd.operates Boeing 757-300 ATR 72-500 Embraer E-195LR.