Israir is continuing to advance its plans to enter the long-haul flight market. The company announced Thursday morning that Bird Aviation, the group’s maintenance arm in Larnaca, Cyprus, has received approval from Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority to perform line maintenance for Airbus A330 aircraft.
The company views the move as a significant milestone in preparations for the launch of its planned U.S. route this summer and for expanding operations to a wide-body fleet. At the same time, Israir is preparing to expand A330 maintenance capabilities to include heavy maintenance, including the construction of an additional hangar in Larnaca designed for wide-body aircraft.
The new authorization granted to Bird Aviation will allow Israir to independently provide line maintenance services for Airbus A330 aircraft, the wide-body planes expected to serve the company’s long-haul routes. The routine maintenance, carried out between flights, includes troubleshooting, line inspections and operational support. The company said the move is expected to improve aircraft availability and increase operational flexibility ahead of the expansion of its international operations.
The move is part of a broader plan announced by Israir earlier this year, under which the company said it would establish a fleet of six wide-body aircraft and expand into the long-haul market. In addition to New York, the company identified future destinations in the Far East, including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong and another destination in China, as well as Miami.
To lead the initiative, the company appointed Yoav Weiss as executive vice president for U.S. and Far East operations and wide-body fleet management.
Shai Gil, Israir’s vice president of maintenance, said receiving approval from Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority for A330 line maintenance is “another important step in strengthening the synergy between the group’s companies, improving aircraft availability, increasing operational flexibility and enhancing our ability to provide a fast, high-quality response to the company’s needs, especially ahead of the launch of operations to the United States.”
Bird Aviation’s location in Larnaca is considered strategically important for Israir, partly because of its proximity to Israel and its ability to provide accessible maintenance support for aircraft operating long-haul routes. The company currently provides maintenance services for Airbus A320 family aircraft with various engine types and is now expanding its operations to include A330 aircraft.