India’s largest airline, Air India, announces three weekly direct flights between New Delhi, Tel Aviv to begin in May, to augment the only current direct Israel-New Delhi flights that are via El Al.
• Also, Tus Airways of Cyprus launches its new direct flights from Athens to Haifa.

By Ilan Gattegno, Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom Staff

India’s largest airline, Air India, on Thursday announced plans to launch direct flights between Tel Aviv and New Delhi, saying that it plans to have three weekly flights on the route, which is expected to become operational in May.

The route is expected to serve the increasing number of Indian tourists visiting Israel and Israelis traveling to India as a result of the strong ties developed between the two countries.

Air India One, a Boeing 747-437, used by President of India – Photo: Wikimedia Commons/José Luis Celada Euba

Direct flights between Tel Aviv and New Delhi are currently available only on Israeli carrier El Al.

According to Israel Airports Authority data, travel between Israel and India has grown significantly in recent years, and the number of passengers flying directly between the two countries reached 158,000 in 2016.

“We’re continuing to develop airports in Israel and pushing down prices, so that the consumer revolution reaches every household, and the Israeli public will be the main beneficiary. More airlines and airplanes flying to and from Israel enhance competition for the Israeli consumer and lower ticket prices substantially,” Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz was quoted as saying by the financial daily Globes.

Also on Thursday, Cypriot carrier Tus Airways announced it has launched a direct route between Athens and Haifa, Israel’s third largest city. The flights fwill operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, the company said.

The airline already operates direct flights between Tel Aviv and Larnaca, and plans to launch direct flights from Haifa to Rhodes and Kos in the summer of 2017.

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http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=40809