MIAMI – EL AL Israel Airlines will launch nonstop service later this year from Miami International Airport to Tel Aviv.
The service will begin in November with three weekly round-trip flights operating on Boeing 777-200 planes.
"This decision is part and parcel of the strategy in which we recognize the importance of trans-Atlantic routes and our desire to expand EL AL's presence in North America," airline president and CEO David Maimon said in a statement. "This new gateway city in the USA will help ensure that as the national airline, EL AL continues to be the leading airline for travel to Israel, offering the most nonstops."
Airport officials said Miami will be the airline's first destination in Florida and the airline's fifth route in the U.S.
"We are proud to welcome EL AL Israel Airlines to our community, and to be the only destination in Florida and in the southeast U.S. with nonstop service to Tel Aviv," Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in a statement. "Miami-Dade County and Miami International Airport continue to attract air service by the world's top airlines from the world's most influential cities."
EL AL Israel Airlines currently flies to 36 destinations from Israel. It is the sixth international passenger airline to schedule a service launch into the Miami market this year.