Australian Aviation

The Wednesday flights will join the existing three flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 27 March, with the existing Thursday flights to operate on Fridays from 3 November this year. Jetstar says the addition of a fourth weekly service will boost annual capacity on the route by 24,000 seats.

The executive, who first joined the carrier in 2009, was seen as one of the leading contenders to replace Alan Joyce as CEO of Qantas Group before the role ultimately went to Vanessa Hudson.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said 255 people boarded the flights, though little detail has been given as to the aircraft or airlines involved.

It follows two planned flights out of Tel Aviv being cancelled over the weekend, including a second Qantas 787 service planned for Sunday.

The $150 million agreement means the state will receive a new Airbus H145 D3 and Bell 412 EP, while an existing 30-year-old police helicopter will be retired.

The airline will initially use a smaller 787-9 to take Australians from Tel Aviv to the British capital, with two services confirmed for today and Sunday.