“The tourist flow from Russia to Uvda airport in Israel has increased by 150% since October 2016 till January 7, 2017 and continues to increase”, - reported the press service of the Ministry of Tourism of Israel. "In the period from October 2, 2016 till January 7, 2017 87 flights were carried out with an average loading of 82%.

“The first flights to far abroad countries will have fulfilled from Moscow airport Zhukovsky in spring 2017. Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Antalya will be the first destinations among abroad routs”, - reported the newspaper "Izvestia" on Friday. "We will fly not only to CIS countries, but also to Europe and Asia.

“Almost 11 thousand tourists from Russia came to Eilat (Israel) from October 2 to December 15, 2016, which is four times more than in the same period of the last year”, - reported the press service of the Ministry of Tourism of Israel. "10 thousand 957 tourists from Russia came to Israeli resort Eilat since the beginning of the second stage of the incentive program of subsidizing charter flights.

“In 2017 Israel expected to host 600 thousand Russian tourists like in 2014”, - said in an interview to "Bulletin of ATOR" the head of department of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in Russia and CIS countries Ksenia Kobyakova. "According to the results of September and October we noted an increase of tourist flow against the previous year.

“TUI Russia” tour operator opened the sale of tours to Red and Dead Sea in Israel within the coming winter season program”, - reported at the press service of the company to the portal "Interfax-Tourism". "TUI launches flights to Eilat on the basis of charter flights by "Ural Airlines".

Israel Ministry of Tourism reported about the decision of the Parliament to abolish airport taxes for the flights arriving Uvda airport. It is expected that this measure will make the charter transportation to the resorts of Eilat more attractive. In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism of Israel extended until 27 October the deadline for applications in this incentive program from airline companies and tour operators which organize international flights from Russia to Uvda airport.

“As part of the invitation programme of the Israely Ministry of Tourism, seven Russian tour operators will implement charter flights to Eilat” - the portal “Interfax-Tourism” was reported in the press service of the Ministry. Today, tour operators are planning to carry out up to 59 flights per month from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Uvda airport. Within the framework of the subsidizing programme, the tour operators that organize flights to Uvda airport will receive the compensatory sum in an amount of EUR 45 per passenger.

A plane belonging to Russia’s Yakutia airline has been seized at the Ben Gurion international airport in Israel’s Tel Aviv over unpaid debts, the company's director general has told TASS. "The Boeing-737 is under arrest at the airport of Israel over debts," Olga Fedorova said. The flight from Tel Aviv to southern Russia’s Krasnodar was detained for 28 hours. More than 100 passengers waited for another plane that arrived from Moscow. The airport’s management provided them with hotel accommodation and food. The plane was seized late on Saturday and the passengers were able to leave the airport only late on Sunday. The Yakutia Airlines is the largest air company in Russia’s Far East. It maintains a fleet of more than 20 aircraft manufactured in Russia and abroad. This year, the government of Yakutia has implemented a recapitalization in the amount of over 1.3 billion rubles ($20.8 million) to pay off the debts.

From July 28, Nordavia airline starts regular flights on the route Sochi - Tel Aviv - Sochi, the press service of the company Basel Aero reported to Interfax. Flights will be carried out once a week, on Tuesdays. Departure from Sochi Airport is at 18:25, arriving at the international airport Ben-Gurion (Tel Aviv) at 21:05. From Tel Aviv plane leaves at 22:05, arriving in Sochi at 00:40. The flight duration is 2 hours 40 minutes. The route will be served by Boeing 737-500 aircraft with a capacity of up to 130 passengers.