ROUTES - Arkia Flies From Paris and New York to Egypt Via HiFly / A330-200 - 9H-HFJ

 Photo: DeRu

Arkia / Airbus A320-200 / 4X-EGO - ex Air Malta

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

FLEET - Arkia to add two A321-200s on lease

Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) has signed a dry-lease agreement with AerCap to add two A321-200s, its first units of the type.

Deliveries are expected in 2027. The aircraft will join the Israeli carrier's in-house fleet comprising three A320-200s, two A321-200NX(LR)s, and two E195s.

Arkia has been heavily relying on wet leases to boots its peak capacity, and currently, among other aircraft, already sources an A321-200 from Electra Airways.
CH Aviation

# LIVERY - Arkia introduces new colors for its latest A320.(A320-200 / 4X-AGO)

Photo: Hanys
 

HYBRID c/s / FLEET - Arkia Israeli Airlines leases A330-200s (9H-ALC) from HIFLY, boosting its operations in New York and Bangkok.

Arkia Israeli airline has signed an ACMI (wet-lease) agreement with Portuguese airline Hi Fly for an Airbus A330-200, which will operate the company's long-haul routes, including New York and Bangkok. The aircraft is configured with a new business class cabin.
The A330-200 will feature 20 reclining seats in business class

Photo: toeychincha

FLEET - Arkia Israeli Airlines Expands Fleet with A320 ( 4X-AGV )

Photo: Hanys

FLEET - Arkia Israeli Airlines leased A320-200 from (hidden)

Photo: Jan Jurecka
 

Israel's Arkia in merger talks with Israir

Israir (6H, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) has advised the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) of preliminary merger talks with Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion). Rami Levy, the controlling owner of Israir, is also reportedly in early discussions with Israel's Competition Authority in a bid to defuse any antitrust concerns a merger may present.

Ongoing geopolitical events in Israel have dampened demand for air travel there, but Hebrew-language outlets report that both airlines believe this presents as an opportune time to merge. However, possible competitive issues that may scuttle any deal include Israir and Arkia being the only operators on the Tel Aviv - Eilat route.

Along with El Al Israel Airlines, Israir and Arkia are the only scheduled passenger carriers based in Israel, with Israir and Arkia competing in the budget market segment. According to ch-aviation PRO airlines data, Israir's six A320-200s fly to 38 destinations in 25 countries, while Arkia's two A321-200NX and three E195s fly to 16 airports in 14 countries. The two airlines compete on several routes, including Tel Aviv - Athens, Tel Aviv - Chisinau, Tel Aviv - Batumi, Tel Aviv - Tbilisi, and the local Tel Aviv - Eilat route.

The current talks are not Arkia's first merger foray. In 2022, discussions took place with El Al about a potential merger and turning Arkia into El Al's LCC arm. However, the proposal failed to secure approval from the Israel Competition Authority. Arkia is 70% owned by the Nakash brothers.

Israir is a subsidiary of Israir Group. That entity is 36.7% owned by a holding company called Shai Odem, which, in turn, is controlled by the Israeli businessmen Rami Levy and Shalom Haim. Levy owns another 20.8% of the carrier and maintains control over it. Like Arkia Israeli Airlines, this is not Israir's first merger rodeo. Merger talks with Smartwings (Czechia) (QS, Prague Václav Havel) now date back over a year. If that merger bid succeeds, Israir will gain control over the Czech carrier's 34 aircraft, turning it into Israel's biggest commercial aviation operator.

The TASE filing notes Arkia initiated the current merger discussions. Israir says it receives "various business opportunities from time to time, as these progress into advanced negotiations, which require an update, the company will update according to legal requirements.”

CH Aviation

Photos: Flyingphotos
 

ARKIA - A321NEOS - 4X-AGN

Ton Jochems . AMS

ARKIA - A321LR - 4X-AGH

Ton Jochems - AMS

ARKIA - Israeli Airlines - B767-306(ER)(WL) - I-NDOF

I-NDOF ready to be handed over to Arkia for a period of wet lease, where departing for TLV/LLBG.

Varani Ennio - VRN Spotter Group
Verona Valerio Catullo Villafranca (VRN / LIPX)

Arkia Israeli Airlines takes delivery of world’s first A321LR

Tel Aviv-based Arkia Israeli Airlines, which is majority owned by Jordache Enterprises, has taken delivery of its first A321LR, becoming the launch operator of the world’s most flexible and capable large single-aisle aircraft ever.

The A321LR is the latest version of the best-selling A321 Family and allows operators the flexibility to fly long-range (LR) operations of up to 4,000nm (7,400km) and to tap into new long-haul markets, which were not previously accessible with single-aisle aircraft. The new LR cabin configuration allows airlines to offer each passenger more space and premium products for widebody comfort.

Powered by LEAP CFM motors, Arkia’s A321LR fleet will be configured with 220 seats in a single-class layout.



Arkia Israeli Airlines received its first A321LR from Hamburg, Germany. The A321LR and its derivative aircraft family members are the world’s best-selling single aisle aircraft with over 6,100 orders from 100 customers since its launch in 2010. It has pioneered and incorporated the latest technologies, including its new generation engines and the industry's reference cabin design, delivering 20% fuel cost savings alone. The A320neo also offers significant environmental benefits with nearly 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.

Arkia outlines A321neo service in W18

Arkia Israel Airlines has filed planned Airbus A321neo operation, set to enter service in the 4th quarter of 2018. Planned operation of the 220-seater aircraft as follows.

Tel Aviv – Barcelona eff 02DEC18 2 weekly
Tel Aviv – London Stansted eff 19NOV18 3 weekly A321 (2 weekly from 03JAN19)
Tel Aviv – Paris CDG eff 18NOV18 2 weekly

By Jim Liu

ARKIA - Israeli Airlines - B767-324(ER)(WL) - I-NDDL (cn 27568)

Ennio Varani
Verona Valerio Catullo Villafranca (VRN / LIPX), Italy  

Arkia expands fleet and undergoes rebranding

Arkia Israel Airlines has undergone a rebranding for the first time in 17 years.

With the launch of its new look and logo, the airline aims to position itself as a modern option for travel.

However, the changes at Arkia are not only cosmetic, they have also introduced modern jet aircraft equipped with wireless internet and intranet entertainment systems.

The company’s fleet of aircraft has been renewed and expanded to include five new Embraer aircraft, two Boeing 757-300s and, within a year, and a new Airbus 321 NEO.

Arkia is also launching an advanced application that enables choice of seating and online check-in, all under the new slogan: “Arkia – from A to Fun”

In the coming months, intranet-based entertainment and media systems will be available on the intranet using the Bring Your Own Device method. These systems, which will operate through a dedicated application, will allow any passenger to view a variety of content on a smart device (mobile phone, tablet), all free of charge. On the new Airbus passengers will enjoy free wireless internet.

The airline will soon be launching direct flights from London Stansted to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport.Maria Airey - Travel News

FPP - Lisboa

Israir Jet Held in Lisbon over Outstanding Debt

An Israir plan was impounded in Lisbon Monday over an alleged debt of millions of euros owed by the company to EuroAtlantic Airways, a Portuguese carrier.

Dozens of Israeli passengers of the airline were stranded in Lisbon after their return flight to Tel Aviv was canceled, according to a report on Ynet. A Portuguese news report said that the plane landed in Lisbon at 10:30 a.m. Monday with Israeli passengers and was set to return to Israel the same day.
The president of the Lisbon-based company confirmed that the plane was held in Portugal over a debt Israir owed and was ordered to pay seven years ago.
"Despite the ruling, they didn't pay, and therefore we impounded the plane," company chairman Tomaz Metello said. Reports indicated the plane was an A320 aircraft which had landed in Lisbon from Israel.

"I's a story that started almost eight years ago, when we leased a plane from EuroAtlantic for flights to the United States," Uri Sirkis, CEO of Israir told Ynet. "After a month we returned the plane to the company for various reasons."
He said EuroAtlantic took the matter to court and appealed its way to the Portuguese Supreme Court, which ruled in December that Israir must pay damages to the tune of US$2 million.

"The legal procedure is ongoing and therefore we were very surprised that Euroatlantic decided to take such a drastic step and detain the plane," he said.

The time

photo:FPP - Lisboa

ARKIA ISRAELI AIRLINES - ERJ-190 - 4X-EWB

Paul Bannwarth - BSL

Israel's Arkia to add 4 A321neos ahead of Open Skies with Europe

Arkia Israeli Airlines is planning to add additional capacity to its current fleet fleet of five ATR72-500s, two B757-300 WIN.s and one EMB-195 ahead of an EU-Israel Open Skies treaty that comes into effect next year. Israel's Globe newswire reports that the Israeli carrier intends to acquire four A321neos between 2016 and 2018