View source for Arkia

{{short description|Israeli airline}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Arkia <br />{{Script/Hebrew|ארקיע}}
| image = Arkia_logo.svg
| image_size = 150
| alt = 
| caption = 
| IATA = IZ
| ICAO = AIZ
| callsign = ARKIA
| founded = 1949 (as Israel Inland Airlines)
| bases = [[Ben Gurion Airport]]
| hubs = [[Ramon Airport]]
| fleet_size = 6
| destinations = 32{{fact|date=September 2023}}
| parent = [[Jordache]] Enterprises (70%)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001337125|title=בדרך לסכסוך עבודה בארקיע; העובדים: "הבעלים לא עושים דבר"|newspaper=Globes|date=26 July 2020|last1=רז-חיימוביץ'|first1=מיכל}}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Ben Gurion Airport]]<br />[[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]
| key_people = Oz Berlovich ([[CEO]])<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://itn.co.il/top-stories/new-ceo-at-israeli-arkia-airline-oz-berlovich-replaces-gadi-teper/ |title=New CEO at Israeli Arkia Airline: Oz Berlovich Replaces Gadi Teper |newspaper=Israel Travel News L.T.D.|date=26 December 2023}}</ref>
| num_employees = 420 (as of 2020)
| website = {{URL|https://www.arkia.co.il}}
}}

'''Arkia'''{{efn|{{langx|he|ארקיע}}; {{lit|I will soar}}}} (stylized as '''arkia'''), legally incorporated as '''Arkia Israeli Airlines Ltd''', is an Israeli airline. Its head office is on the grounds of [[Sde Dov Airport]] in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]].<ref>"Directory: World airlines." ''[[Flight International]]''. 16–22 March 2004. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%200090.html?search=Arkia 88] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025193129/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%200090.html?search=Arkia |date=2012-10-25 }}.</ref> It is [[Israel]]'s second largest airline,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financialmirror.com/news-details.php?nid=31913 |title=Financial Mirror dot com - Arkia Airlines starts flights between Cyprus and Israel |publisher=Financialmirror.com |date=2014-02-03 |access-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310182335/http://www.financialmirror.com/news-details.php?nid=31913 |archive-date=2014-03-10 }}</ref> operating scheduled domestic and international services, as well as charter flights to destinations in [[Western Europe]] and across the [[Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean]]. Its main base is Ben Gurion Airport, with a hub at the [[Ramon Airport]].<ref name="FI">{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 77 | date= 2007-03-27}}</ref>

As of 2020, there are 420 employees employed at Arkia.<ref name="chaviation">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/95376-israels-arkia-to-resume-as-deal-inked-on-layoffs-pay-cuts |title=Israel's Arkia to resume as deal inked on layoffs, pay cuts |newspaper=ch-aviation |date=18 September 2020 |first=Howard |last=Jarvis}} </ref>{{FV|date=February 2025}}

==History==
[[File:Arikia 4x-bac.jpg|thumb|Arkia operated the first Israeli civilian helicopter service in October 1959.]]
[[File:Eleanor Roosevelt arriving to Eilat on Arkia 1959.jpg|thumb|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]] arriving for a visit in [[Eilat]] on an Arkia airplane on March 26, 1959]]
===Foundation and early years===
Arkia was founded in 1949 as '''Israel Inland Airlines''' when it became clear that there was demand for a local airline to connect Tel Aviv with different regions of the then-new state of Israel, especially with Eilat, Israel's important seaport situated on the Gulf of Aqaba.<ref name="about">{{cite web | url=http://www.arkia.co.il/site2con/eng/about_new.html | title=About Arkia | access-date=2007-07-20 | publisher=Arkia Israel Airlines |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070518181331/http://www.arkia.co.il/site2con/eng/about_new.html  |archive-date = 2007-05-18}}</ref> Flights commenced in 1950 with [[De Havilland Dragon Rapide|De Havilland DH.89]] aircraft, followed by [[Douglas DC-3]]s, to inter-connect major towns in Israel from [[Rosh Pina|Rosh Pinna]] in the North to the port of Eilat in the South.<ref name="about" /> [[El Al]] held a 50% stake in the airline at this time with the [[Histadrut]], Israel's labour federation, being the other shareholder.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} The airline later adopted the name '''Eilata Airlines - Aviron''', and '''Arkia Israel Airlines'''.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} In its first year of service, Israel Inland Airlines carried 13,485 passengers, using a [[C-46 Commando|Curtis Commando]].<ref name="about" />

During the 1950s, the airline continued to grow, upgrading its fleet to the larger [[DC-3]], and operating two flights a day on the Tel Aviv-Eilat route.<ref name="about" /> This allowed Arkia to have annual passenger figures of over 70,000.<ref name="about" /> As Eilat continued to grow during the 1960s, so did the airline, introducing the [[Handley Page Dart Herald]] 200 turboprop aircraft to its fleet between 1967 and 1968, enabling Arkia to expand with new routes to [[Jerusalem]], and [[Sharm-el-Sheikh]].<ref name="about" /> A subsidiary, Kanaf Arkia Airline and Aviation Services, was founded when the airline acquired 50% of the stock of Kanaf Airlines and Aviation Services, and by the end of the 1960s, scheduled flights were in operation across Israel, from [[Rosh Pinna]] in the north, to [[Ofira]] in the south.<ref name="about" />

[[File:Arkia Boeing 737-200 Volpati.jpg|thumb|Arkia [[Boeing 737-200]] at [[Orly Airport]], [[Paris]], France, 1982]]
In March 1980, Kanaf Arkia acquired the remaining stock of Arkia and merged the two operators.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} The airline grew quickly during the 1980s, moving both into the international charter market and airline maintenance. 

===Development during the 2000s===
The airline is now owned by Kanaf-Arkia Airlines (70%) and airline employees (30%). In 2006, the Nakash brothers of [[Jordache]] Enterprises bought Knafaim's 70% share.<ref name="about" />

In February 2007, the Israeli Tourism Ministry awarded Arkia a scheduled operator's licence for flights to [[Dublin]], and [[Larnaca]], a destination dropped by El Al.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1171894489862 | title=Arkia gets scheduled status | access-date=2007-05-05 | publisher=Jerusalem Post}}</ref> In July 2007, it was announced that the airline planned to file for further scheduled carrier status on routes to [[New York City]] and [[Bangkok]], currently served under charter status.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000230308&fid=942 | title=Arkia to add 2 more Boeing 787s | access-date=2007-07-11 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015438/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000230308&fid=942 | archive-date=2007-09-30 | date=2007-07-10 }}</ref> Furthermore, in early 2008, after the Israeli Tourism Ministry opened up the airline market, the airline applied for scheduled carrier status for routes to Barcelona, Berlin, Moscow, and Paris.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} The licence for Paris was granted in February 2008, and the airline announced that both economy and business class would be offered on this route. {{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} At this time, the airline also announced that it would add two [[Boeing 737]] aircraft to its fleet within two years, as well as four [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] aircraft it had on order which were to be delivered in 2012.<ref name="paris">{{cite web | url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000308850&fid=1725 | title=Arkia named designated carrier on TA-Paris route | date=2008-02-12 | access-date=2008-02-12 | publisher=Globes | author=Dalia Tal | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516112555/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000308850&fid=1725 | archive-date=2011-05-16 }}</ref> The order for the 787 aircraft was moved to a leasing subsidiary owned by MG Aviation and leased to [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]]. The order was replaced with an order for four [[Airbus A330neo]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/247301/arkia-to-launch-long-haul-with-airbus-a330-900neo-deal/|title=Arkia to Launch Long-Haul with Airbus A330-900neo Deal|access-date=28 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317233345/https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/247301/arkia-to-launch-long-haul-with-airbus-a330-900neo-deal/|archive-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

In November 2018, Arkia became the launch customer of the [[Airbus A321LR]] when it received its first aircraft of the type.<ref name="Israel’s Arkia becomes Airbus A321LR launch customer" />  In May 2024, Arkia announced it was [[Wet leasing|wet-leasing]] a [[Boeing 737-700]] from Ukrainian company [[SkyUp Airlines|SkyUp]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arkia Israeli Airlines announces B737-700 wet-lease |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/140752-arkia-israeli-airlines-announces-b737-700-wet-lease |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=ch-aviation |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2025, Arkia announced it would begin direct flights between NYC and Tel Aviv starting on 8 February 2025 using [[Airbus A330neo|Airbus A330-900]] aircraft operated by [[Iberojet (airline)|Iberojet]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web | url=https://vinnews.com/2025/01/13/arkia-launches-direct-flights-from-tel-aviv-to-new-york | title=Arkia Launches Direct Flights from Tel Aviv to New York - VINnews | date=13 January 2025 }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Len |date=2025-01-14 |title=Arkia to Launch Direct Tel Aviv-New York Flights |url=https://aviationsourcenews.com/arkia-to-launch-direct-tel-aviv-new-york-flights/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=AviationSource News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2025, Arkia announced it would begin a 2nd direct flight between NYC and Tel Aviv starting in June 2025 using Boeing 787-9 aircraft operated by Neos Air.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==Destinations==
{{main|List of Arkia destinations}}

==Fleet==
[[File:4X-AGK Independence Day 09-05-2019b.jpg|thumb|Arkia [[Airbus A321LR]]]]
[[File:4X-EMA Micha B.jpg|thumb|Arkia [[Embraer E195]]]]
[[File:4X-AVZ_LLBG02-04-2015a.jpg|thumb|A former Arkia [[ATR 72-500]] in an earlier livery]]
===Current fleet===
{{As of|2025|8}}, Arkia operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Arkia |magazine=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=63}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|- 
!Aircraft
!In service
!Orders
!Passengers
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|1
|&mdash;
|180
|<ref>{{cite news |last1=קוטלר |first1=עמית |title=ארקיע מתרחבת: מטוס שביעי נוסף לצי החברה; עבר צביעה וחידוש של תא הנוסעים |url=https://passportnews.co.il/article/198442 |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=פספורטניוז |publisher=PassportNews |date=31 July 2025 |language=he}}</ref>
|-
|[[Airbus A321LR]]
|2
|&mdash;
|219
|Launch customer.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/11/arkia-israeli-airlines-takes-delivery-of-world-s-first-a321lr.html|title=Arkia Israeli Airlines takes delivery of world's first A321LR|publisher=Airbus|date=14 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/71732-israels-arkia-to-take-maiden-a321neolr|title=Israel's Arkia to take maiden A321neo(LR)|website=ch-aviation.com|access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|1
|&mdash;
|N/A
|<ref>{{cite news |title=ארקיע קיבלה מטוס רחב-גוף ראשון מסוג איירבוס A330-200 |url=https://passportnews.co.il/article/199752 |access-date=29 October 2025 |work=פספורטניוז |publisher=PassportNews |date=29 October 2025 |language=he}}</ref>
|-
|[[Embraer E195]]
|3
|&mdash;
|122
|
|-
!Total
!7
!&mdash;
! colspan="2" |
|}

===Historic fleet===
Arkia Israel Airlines has also operated the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arkia.com/company-profile-history-c132 |title=Arkia Israeli Airlines - Company Profile and History |access-date=2018-02-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164458/https://www.arkia.com/company-profile-history-c132 |archive-date=2018-03-01 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|- 
!Aircraft
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[ATR 72-500]]
|1998
|2017
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200]]
|1982
|2000
|
|-
|[[Boeing 757-200]]
|1993
|2007
|
|-
|[[Boeing 757-300]]
|2000
|2019{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|
|-
|[[Curtiss C-46 Commando]]
|1950
|{{Unknown}}
|
|-
|[[de Havilland Canada Dash 7]]
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|1955
|{{Unknown}}
|
|-
|[[Embraer 190]]
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|
|-
|[[Handley Page Dart Herald]]
|1964
|{{Unknown}}
|
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount]]
|1980
|{{Unknown}}
|
|}

===Livery===
In May 2017, Arkia unveiled a new livery, ahead of the delivery of new aircraft, which consists of a lower-case 'a' on the vertical fin, which also features the striping effect and multicoloured stripes on the aft section and the winglets of each aircraft. The colour of the stripes and logo will vary between each aircraft.<ref>{{cite news|title=PICTURE: Arkia revamps livery ahead of fleet renewal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-arkia-revamps-livery-ahead-of-fleet-renewal-437200/ |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=15 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519123026/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-arkia-revamps-livery-ahead-of-fleet-renewal-437200/ |archive-date=19 May 2017 |location=[[London]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Incidents and accidents==
* On 28 November 2002, [[Arkia Israel Airlines Flight 582]], a Boeing 757-300, was narrowly missed by two [[Surface-to-air missile|anti-aircraft missile]]s, fired at it shortly after take-off from [[Moi International Airport]] in [[Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]. The plane continued onward and landed safely in Tel Aviv, Israel. The incident occurred approximately 20&nbsp;minutes before the [[Kenyan hotel bombing]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://lindasog.com/public/terrorvictims.htm| title= A History of Terrorism in Israel| access-date= 2007-05-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070509065958/http://lindasog.com/public/terrorvictims.htm| archive-date= 9 May 2007| url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0211/28/bn.05.html | title=Pilot of Arkia Flight 582 Describes What Happened | access-date=2007-05-05 | publisher=CNN | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223063018/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0211/28/bn.05.html | archive-date=2007-12-23 }}</ref>

{{clear}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Israel’s Arkia becomes Airbus A321LR launch customer">{{cite news |last1=Hofmann |first1=Kurt |title=Israel's Arkia becomes Airbus A321LR launch customer |url=http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines/israel-s-arkia-becomes-airbus-a321lr-launch-customer |publisher=[[Air Transport World]] |date=13 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124002622/http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines/israel-s-arkia-becomes-airbus-a321lr-launch-customer |archive-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Arkia}}
* {{Official website|https://www.arkia.com}}

{{Airlines of Israel}}
{{IATA members|europe}}
{{Transportation in Israel}}
{{Portalbar|Israel|Companies|Aviation}}

[[Category:Airlines established in 1950]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Airlines of Israel]]
[[Category:Companies based in Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:Israeli brands]]