Arkia: Israel's Second Airline Between Domestic Flights and European Routes

History and positioning

Originally created to serve mainly Israeli domestic connections, Arkia has gradually shifted toward an international leisure offering as domestic demand shrank under competition from newer low-cost carriers.

The fleet

A mix of Airbus A320-family aircraft, including the new A321neo, the most comfortable aircraft in the fleet, and the smaller Embraer E190s used on the shortest domestic routes.

Routes and network

About two dozen routes, mostly international leisure flights to the Mediterranean and western European capitals such as Barcelona, Paris and Vienna, with a smaller share of domestic and charter flights and even, occasionally, a long-haul link such as Tel Aviv-New York JFK.

What passengers say

Reviews highlight a sharp gap between the two ends of the fleet: the A321neo cabin is rated far better than the older Embraers still used on some domestic routes, with an overall verdict that is mixed rather than uniformly positive or negative.

The ideal passenger flies Tel Aviv-Eilat on the domestic market or a European leisure route where Arkia operates a direct service. It is not the right choice for anyone who wants to avoid older regional jets at all costs, because the aircraft varies a lot from route to route. Practical tip: check which aircraft type is assigned to your domestic flight before booking, because the comfort difference between the A321neo and the old Embraers is considerable.