Israel’s national carrier is one step closer to arriving in Melbourne – the first time an airline has serviced non-stop flights between Israel and Australia, bringing more visitors, increasing investment opportunities and creating new local jobs.
Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll was joined by EL AL CEO Dina Ben Tal Ganancia in Tel Aviv yesterday as they signed a Letter of Intent between the Victorian Government and the airline to work together to secure non-stop Tel Aviv to Melbourne flights by June 2024.
The airline’s intention is to operate three services per week, which are expected to add 44,000 seats to Melbourne each year, deliver a $48 million annual boost to the state’s economy and create an estimated 155 jobs in aviation and tourism, an official press release said.
Once operational, the flights will provide a non-stop air link between Israel and Australia and position Melbourne as the airline’s hub for passengers travelling to destinations across Australia and New Zealand.
Israel is considered one of the most advanced market economies in the world, with the country ranked 20th in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report and third in the 2020 Global Fintech Rankings report, after the US and the UK.
Recognising Israel’s importance as a key strategic partner, the Andrews Labor Government established its Trade and Investment Office in Tel Aviv in 2017 through an exclusive agreement with the Israel Australia Chamber of Commerce.
Israel is also an important market for our international education sector, with 45 per cent of Israeli students studying in Australia enrolled in Victorian institutions in 2019, the release added.
EL AL will join a growing list of airlines that have been supported by the Labor Government to expand international flights to Melbourne, including Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Scoot.
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