Israeli startup Air Haifa will likely target leisure destinations in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey, alongside domestic service to the Red Sea resort town of Eilat.

The carrier intends to offer low-cost capacity from Haifa Airport (HFA) in northern Israel, located around 60 mi. from Tel Aviv.

Israel’s Transportation Minister Miri Regev reportedly approved a business license for the new airline earlier this week, and it is now seeking an air operator’s certificate from Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority. The LCC aims to be flying by the second half of 2024.

“The planned operations of Air Haifa hold significant promise for the residents of the northern region and Eilat,” a statement from Air Haifa says. “Direct flights from Haifa will contribute to economic development and growth in the northern region, enhancing the quality of life, generating new job opportunities, increasing incoming tourism and providing convenient access to the city of Eilat from the third-largest metropolitan area in Israel.”

Air Haifa was incorporated in March 2023 and is backed by Nir Zuk, the founder of U.S. multinational cybersecurity business Palo Alto Networks. Company documents for the new airline show that other officials include former El Al Israel Airlines CEO Gonen Ussishkin.

According to data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser, there are no scheduled services operating from HFA at present. Israir was the last carrier to offer regular scheduled flights—to Eilat and Larnaca in Cyprus—but they ended at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. However, charter service to Larnaca resumed in June 2023 by Universal Air using De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100s.

The short runway at HFA, which measures 4,324 ft. in length, limits the type of aircraft and the destinations airlines are able to serve from the airport. It is understood that Air Haifa’s fleet will therefore comprise smaller turboprops.