Air opening new Israel production facility
Air is set to move into its new production facility located in central Israel towards the end of summer 2025.
The 32,000sqft (2,970sqm) facility, capable of producing six aircraft simultaneously, will include an aircraft assembly line, engineering lab, composite materials workshop and paint shop. Air said it expects to achieve a production rate of 40 aircraft per year from day one.
The new site will also serve as the blueprint for the larger, more advanced US-based facility, equipped with an automated production line, for high volume production.
Rani Plaut, CEO and co-founder of Air, told us: “While this site plays a crucial role in fulfilling our initial purchase orders for the delivery of at least 15 cargo aircraft over the coming year, we remain centred on establishing a much larger, automated manufacturing facility in the US to best serve our predominantly US-based customer base and align with our company’s long-term growth and certification roadmap.”
The facility allows for in-house testing of aircraft before flight line deployment. Air’s automotive-based DNA enables its Tier 1 suppliers to deliver proven and tested subsystems for assembly at the new site, streamlining operations and maintaining production cycle efficacy. By handling the integration of these components, the new facility ensures high-quality and scalable production.
“The site is structured to enable a flow-through production model, where multiple aircraft progress through defined assembly zones, based on lean manufacturing — from airframe preparation to systems integration and final testing. By accommodating six aircraft at once, we maintain flexibility and ensure consistent output without bottlenecks, while allowing for rapid iteration as we scale and evolve both crewed and uncrewed platforms,” said Plaut.
Chen Rosen, CTO and co-founder of Air, added: “This new site is integral to Air’s focus on multi-domain eVTOL development. It was built with future growth in mind, offering ample space and the flexibility required for increased production capacity. The layout enhances collaboration across teams, ensuring greater operational efficiency between production, engineering and support functions.”
This latest development marks the next phase of growth for Air, which has doubled its team size over the past year and expanded its product line. The company has 15 uncrewed cargo eVTOLs scheduled for delivery in the coming year, and over 2,500 preorders for its piloted Air One eVTOL aircraft.
According to Plaut, the first production-grade aircraft will be completed in its current facility within the next month. “Completion of the second aircraft, and the first one to be built entirely at the new site, will follow within a few weeks of the move, likely in late summer or early fall,” he noted.
With an eye on its US expansion, Air opted to secure a long-term lease to its new facility. Plaut explained: “This approach allows more immediate production capabilities while remaining capital-efficient. We’ve invested significantly in customising and upgrading the facility to meet our production, safety, and workforce needs.” The build has been privately funded.
Sustainability has been a focus of the build. Air has incorporated energy-efficient systems into the site and is evaluating the integration of solar energy and sustainable materials for future upgrades. “As we scale, we plan to expand our sustainability commitments across both our internal operations and supply chain,” said Plaut.
Despite uncertainty in the Middle East region, a result of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, Air took the decision to press on with construction of its new facility.
Subscribe to our free newsletter
For more deep dives from SAF Investor, subscribe to our email newsletter.
