Continental believed Newark would provide the best feeder, attracting “both the business traveler and religious traveler” for the flights to Israel, according to airline spokeswoman Michele Treacy.
El Al Airlines offers six flights weekly from Newark; beginning in March, all will be nonstop.
El Al apparently is not concerned about the new competition. “There are at least 15 airlines flying to Israel already and El Al certainly has the majority” of flights and passengers, said Sheryl Stein, El Al spokeswoman. “Between Newark and JFK, we have more than 20 flights a week, most them non-stop.”
Continental sent a letter last month to Israel’s civil aviation administration to lay the groundwork for approval. A company attorney was expected to travel to Israel this week to begin the formal application process.