Israeli carrier Israir Airlines will introduce two new routes to the former Yugoslavia next summer season from its hub in Tel Aviv, as well as increase its operations to other destinations in the region. The carrier will commence a two weekly service to Skopje, starting May 20, upon the completion of the airport’s runway overhaul project which will result in temporary closures. Flights will be maintained each Monday and Friday with a wet-leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Israir faces no competition on the route. It follows efforts by the Macedonian government, which began in 2017, to establish flights between the two cities. “The development of air traffic is this government’s strategic commitment. This involves expanding the network of available destinations and flights. I have held talks with the Macedonian Ambassador to Israel and the Honorary Consulate General of Macedonia in Tel Aviv. This was an excellent opportunity to jointly consider the conditions for the introduction of a new Skopje - Tel Aviv service, which would benefit both countries”, the Macedonian Minister for Transport and Communications said prior to the pandemic in late 2019.
Israir will also commence a new regular service between Tel Aviv and Split. The airline had previously only flown charters to Croatia’s second largest city. The service to Split will commence on June 15 and run once per week, each Wednesday, until October 19. A wet-leased B737-800 will also be used for these flights. The service will complement the airline’s operations to Dubrovnik which will be performed twice per week next summer, each Monday and Friday, from June 3 until mid-October. The Israeli carrier will also continue to fly to nearby Tivat to which it will run up to one daily flight with a mix of Airbus A320 and B737-800 aircraft from May 5 until the end of the 2022 summer season.
Elsewhere, Israel’s second largest airline will operate flights to Belgrade and Ljubljana. Services to the Serbian capital are currently scheduled to run up to four times per week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from the start of the season in late March with a mix of A320 and B737-800 jets. Furthermore, the carrier will continue to serve the Slovenian capital with a two weekly service, each Tuesday and Saturday, from June 21 until October 18. The B737-800 will also be utilised for these flights. Further details for the new Tel Aviv - Skopje service can be found here, while additional information for the Split operation can be viewed here.
Good news. It should bring Israeli tourists to Macedonia
ReplyDeleteGreat to see these new flights to Skopje. easyjet started last week, new Wizz routes in December and now Israir :)
ReplyDeleteand don't forget the new Russia flights launched this year.
DeleteAll we need are those long haul flights to the US ;)
DeleteOr China
DeleteOr Canada ;)
DeleteTrue the Ex-Yu hat trick US-China-Canada.
DeleteHahaha so true
DeleteOr FRA, LHR, CDG....
DeleteI'm surprised Wizz Air never took up the opportunity to launch SKP-TLV. Seems like a good fit for them.
ReplyDeleteEven if they wanted to they couldn't. As an EU registered airline, Wizz can't fly between two non-EU countries unless it's Norway.
DeleteTime for Wizz to register a plane in Macedonia.
DeleteYou won't see them doing that. They don't want to pay for anything.
DeleteAs if they would have to pay for anything. The government would cover the cost.
DeleteIt's not just about the registration of the aircraft, you need the whole structure for an airline, which makes little sense to do just so you could fly a few extra routes.
DeleteThen, how do they fly to London Luton from OHD and SKP?
DeleteThey have an UK registered AOC my dear
DeleteHave there ever been flights between Skopje and Tel Aviv?
ReplyDeleteI think MAT used to fly to TLV at one point didn't they?
DeleteI don't think so. Mat Airways which was established by Kon Tiki after MAT went bankrupt planned its first route to be Belgrade-Ohrid-Tel Aviv but they never got off the ground.
DeleteWhatever happened to their plane? The B737-500?
DeleteTheir plane is still parked at the old terminal of Skopje Airport. MAT Airways was shame for Macedonia, Avioimpex was the best Macedonian Airline followed by Palair Macedonian.
DeleteBut MAT Airways never took off. Why would it be the "shame of Macedonia". In my opinion MAT Macedonian Airlines was quite a good carrier with a good network. Unfortunately killed by the Macedonian government and directorate to make way for Wizz.
Delete@09,35
DeleteMAT was a poorly run airline. They failed to pay their debts which got them banned from flying to most of their destinations. They failed to pay for aircraft leases, spare parts, maintenance, fuel, handling. They were selling tickets to destinations they were not flying to which got them taken to court.
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2010/01/mat-to-declare-bankruptcy.html?m=1
MAT took off, they were flying for several years and because of them Avioimpex collapsed. MAT was chosen to be national carrier and they only had 1 plane while Avioimpex had 12 airplanes. Later, in 2002 the government banned them to fly from SKP so they had to move to PRN and fly with fifth freedom but that didnt work well so they went bankrupt after several months. Avioimpex was also partner with Adria Airways as well as with Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot.
DeleteI'm surprised Israir didn't launch Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteBasically they're flying everywhere expect Zagreb.
DeleteExpect this!
DeleteFor all of you so much concerned about Israir not flying to Zagreb, let me inform you that ZAG was the ONLY destination in ex-yu served by ELAL during Yugoslavia, and that ELAL operated TLV to ZAG service on scheduled bases, twice weekly, until corona scam started, and is going to continue with the service as soon as situation at least a little but gets back to normal
Deletelittle bit, not but
DeleteHow could El Al fly to Zagreb when Yugoslavia and Israel did not have diplomatic relations ?
DeleteMakes no sense...
If you don't believe me, ask someone who knows about it and whom you believe. I never lie, and as on many occasions here, I wrote facts which I know, and that is ELAL flew to ZAG during SFRJ, approximately the same time frame as Air Canada did.
Delete@18,18
DeleteEl Al launched ZAG in 1989.
Relations between Yugoslavia and Israel improved by the late 1980's. First Israeli official to visit Yugoslavia since the cancelation of relations was in September 1988.
Is Arkia still flying to Ohrid?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem to be in their package tours anymore.
DeleteKorona
DeleteArkia used to fly to RJK as well, with 757, but then everything stopped
DeleteAgain no Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't El Al fly seasonally to Zagreb?
DeleteFor next summer there are no flights scheduled between Tel Aviv and Zagreb. At least not for now.
Delete@An.09.13
DeleteCannot guarantee with my life, but I think ELAL restarted ZAG once weekly and seasonaly, but last year before covid scam it was twice weekly and year-round. Someone can correct me if I am mistaken
This is great news but seems the runway reconstruction will really mess things up at SKP for two months.
ReplyDeleteIt will be nuisance to passengers but in terms of new arrivals I don't see why it messes things up. Israir has decided to come regardless, except instead of April it will start at the end of the runway reconstruction a month and half later.
DeleteGreat news! Well done, Skopie and Split!
ReplyDeleteGood luck
ReplyDeleteThis addition of airlines at SKP this year and next is really needed to diversify the offer.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteSmart strategy. After helping Wizz build up its route network and make its flights from Macedonia sustainable, the government is now looking to add more verity and broaden the offer. Good move.
DeleteWe need FR,EW, AF, BA, KL and LH!
DeleteHope it leads to a boom in Israeli visitors to Macedonia as was the case in Serbia.
ReplyDeleteThe Ohrid flights from TLV were popular. Hope these are too.
DeleteNice to see something exotic for Skopje for a change :)
ReplyDeleteI would prefer Air France, KLM, British, SAS to be honest.
DeleteSure I would prefer some of those too but the realistic list is also good too.
Deleteyes, because Israel is such an exotic country.
DeleteKeep in mind that people also visit Jerusalem...
DeleteExcellent news. Israelis are holidaying more and more in the Balkans.
ReplyDeleteGet ready for extremely rigorous security checks which start at check-in if you are using these flights.
ReplyDeleteAll Israeli airlines have the same security procedures when departing foreign airports. You will see a special lane at the check in counter with tables and security guards checking baggage on the spot. That's why checkin lasts so long for these flights.
DeleteThis route was already planed for the summer before corona outbreak but it never got off. Fingers crossed this time. I know that Arkia flies charters to OHD as well.
ReplyDeleteHere’s the link from Jan 2020:
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/01/israir-to-launch-skopje-service.html?m=1
Is it possible they will fly TLV-SKP-OHD?
ReplyDeleteHow long would the SKP-OHD sector be?
DeleteJU did the triangle route years ago.
DeleteI mean triangle route Belgrade-Ohrid-Skopje-Belgrade.
Delete25 minutes. I have flown with MAT VIE-OHD-SKP.
DeleteAlso Conrendon or TUI (not sure which one) used to fly triangle flights from Amsterdam I think. AMD-OHD-SKP-AMS.
DeleteBRU, not AMS
DeleteHonestly, I can't see the market between TLV and SKP being significant enough for flights between these two cities. But let's see.
ReplyDelete@Admin, do you by any chance have the number of passengers who flew indirectly from Skopje to Tel Aviv in 2019 or 2020?
DeleteIn 2019, there were 6.409 passengers on a single itinerary flying between Skopje and Tel Aviv.
DeleteIn 2020, there were 1.550 passengers.
Thank you! Not bad at all actually. And that's without any promotion or tour packages for tourists which will change with the nonstop flights. Appreciate the numbers.
DeleteThose numbers are a welcome surprise. There have been FR routes launched from Zagreb with much fewer passengers.
DeleteAgree with Anon 9:41. If there was market and demand between Israel and North Macedonia, plenty of airlines could've already launched flights. Belgrade, Croatian coast or Montenegro do make more sense and let's be honest...
Deletelets be honest about what? that there have been flights to OHD for years until Corona...
DeleteDo they get any incentive at SKP for launching these flights?
ReplyDeleteStandard incentives any new airline on any new airline gets in SKP and pretty much every other airport in the world.
DeleteAsking about incentives at SKP, not other airports.
DeleteThis is all well and fine but I'm still waiting to see is these flights go on sale.
ReplyDeleteTLV-TIV is crazy. Daily flights!
ReplyDeleteIsraelis enjoying the Montenegrin coast :)
DeleteAnd it is less expensive than Croatian coast.
DeleteWhat about Arkia's flights to ex-Yu for next summer?
ReplyDeleteThey have no scheduled flights. All their flights to ex-Yu operate as charters.
DeleteIs there any chance for flights to be established between Tel Aviv and Nis? For tour groups?
ReplyDeleteno chance. The bilateral between Serbia and Israel is strict and I think it only allows flights between Tel Aviv and Belgrade.
DeleteSpeaking of BEG, will El Al return next year?
DeleteAt the moment El Al has no flights on sale to any ex-Yu city next year.
Delete^ It's too early, especially in the age of corona.
DeleteI'm surprised no one launched TLV-SKP earlier.
ReplyDeleteThat's the downside of not having a national airline. A lot of unserved routes which can be very successful.
Delete+1
DeleteThat’s why it’s hard to get routes such as CDG, FRA, MUC, LHR and many more!
DeleteSplit should work out with no problem but Skopje remains doubtful. They should have tried Ohrid instead.
ReplyDeleteOhrid already gets Arkia flights
DeleteWell it's telling that Split is once weekly for a shorter period of time while Skopje is scheduled 2 weekly from May. So obviously they see potential in SKP.
DeleteDo 2019. Arkia je letjela TLV-OHD 3 puta nedjeljno sa E195
DeleteIn next five years after modernisation of terminals
ReplyDeleteOn Belgrade Airport and businesses advancing in Serbia, El Al will be natural links from Israel. ✈🌐🛫
Baš tako.
Deletegreat for Israir, lets hope Arkia bounces back too
ReplyDeleteAegean and TK handled most of Skopje-Tel Aviv traffic. So they stand to loose.
ReplyDeleteam sure Pegasus had more pax to TLV then A3
DeletePossible. I remember admin once posted most popular Aegean connecting flights from/to Skopje in 2019 and Tel Aviv was among the top interestingly.
DeleteIt would be good if A3 could take those transfers from JU to destinations like CDG,LHR, ARN,PRG
Delete