Diverse UAE firm claims intention to bid for Israeli carrier Israir

UAE-based investors are intending to bid for the Israeli leisure carrier Israir, one of the country’s main operators. NY Koen Group, a diversified holding company located in Dubai, says it will be submitting a bid to purchase the airline. Israir has a mix of Airbus A320 jets and ATR turboprops. The carrier was the first in the country to order aircraft from Airbus when it signed for A320s in 2007. NY Koen Group says it is “excited” about the “opportunities” that acquisition of the airline, during an upcoming auction, would offer. It already has a Dubai-based aviation division, Aero Private Jet, which specialises in arranging business jet charter operations. The division – which claims to have access to over 7,000 aircraft, through co-operation with private jet owners – also has operations in Ukraine and Russia. NY Koen Group says it views acquisition of Israir as a “chance to expand [these] services”.<br/>