Basel. Strategic location
Israir to launch direct flights to Basel
Day after EasyJet announces its flight route between Tel Aviv and Geneva, Israeli airline presents its initiation of flights to Swiss city on border with France and Germany, making it first Israeli company to operate regularly scheduled flights to Basel
Israeli airline, Israir, announced Tuesday that it will launch a new flight route between Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport and Basel, Switzerland. Starting on March 24, Israir will operate two scheduled flights a week to the city, making it the first Israeli airline to offer scheduled flights to this destination.
Ynet learned that the starting price of a ticket on the new route will be $412, including airport and fuel taxes.
Basel is an attractive destination, both for business and pleasure, because of its proximity to border between France, Germany, and Switzerland. In addition, there are many Jewish communities in Basel and its surroundings that now can enjoy greater accessibility to Israel.
Israir said in a statement that launching the scheduled route to Basel is part of the company's policy to become leader in scheduled flights to a range of destinations. The Basel route joins six other routes to which Israir operates scheduled flights: Rome, Milan, Berlin, Nice, Ljubljana, and Moscow.
Basel sits on the banks of the Rhine and is the meeting point of the Swiss, French, and German borders, making it a strategic point for people continuing on in their travels to Europe.
Basel is a multi-cultural city and a lively international art hub. A plethora of markets and fairs may be visited in the city's old section, which is considered one of the most picturesque in Europe. The city also offers a rich array of night life.
Basel is also home to extensive Jewish history. The First Zionist Congress was held in one of the city's hotels at which Theodor Herzl declared his vision for the "state for the Jews."
"We are happy to be the first company to allow Israelis to reach directly this important and interesting destination," said Israir CEO Ofer Green. "The strategic location of Basel played an important role in our decision to open an additional scheduled route, our seventh. With one ticket, the Israeli tourist can enjoy a visit to three different countries. Businessmen as well will be afforded high accessibility and flexibility to a number of business destinations."
Israir's announcement of their Basel route comes one day after EasyJet said it would start operating a scheduled flight route to a much more attractive destination in Switzerland – Geneva.
