Boston airport may start direct flights to Tel Aviv

Massachusetts statisics show 90 passengers arriving in Boston from Israel every day, making for significant commercial potential.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
plane open skies 88 (photo credit: )
plane open skies 88
(photo credit: )
Israelis living in Boston now have a better chance than ever for a direct flight to Ben-Gurion International Airport. Boston's Logan International Airport has announced its plans to expand the list of destinations to which it sends direct flights, and Tel Aviv is the top potential candidate, it was reported on Tuesday. According to Yil Surehan, the director of Massport (the Massachusetts airport authority), some 90 passengers arrive in Boston from Israel every day via other airports throughout the world - particularly Zurich, Frankfurt and New York. Such numbers show the significant commercial potential of two to three weekly Tel-Aviv-Boston flights. The opening of a direct route between the two cities could boost Israel's tourism industry, as well as influence decisions made by both Israeli and Boston-area business moguls who may be looking for new locations for their enterprises. Several weeks ago, Surehan sent a letter to El-Al Director-General Haim Romano describing the business potential of opening a direct Tel-Aviv-Boston line, and requesting contacts on the subject. The director of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI), Christa Bleyleben, will arrive in Israel on March 26 for a week-long visit, accompanied by the head of MOITI's Israel desk, Patrick Bench. The two will meet with representatives of the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry and the Israel Life Sciences Industry (ILSI), as well as with department heads from the Israel Export Institute. They will also attend a seminar in Haifa organized by CJP Boston on the subject of "Life Science."