Arkia decides to extend operation of Tel Aviv-New York route until at least October

Israeli airline Arkia decides to extend the operation of its new route to New York until at least October and will add new European destinations as it bets that Israelis will eagerly return to book their holidays abroad during the spring and summer peak seasons.

“We see that the Israeli tourist is gradually returning to plan long-term vacations, alongside last-minute spontaneous vacations,” says Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz during a press conference in Tel Aviv. “After a challenging year and a half of war, there is a need to get some fresh air.”

The announcement comes after Arkia launched direct, return-flights from Tel Aviv to New York in early February, marking the airline’s first time flying to the United States. The Israeli carrier originally planned to operate the route for a period of three months starting February 8.

The debut of Arkia’s long-haul flight comes as flagship carrier El Al had largely maintained a monopoly status on the direct New York route since US carriers have been staying away for most of the past year due to security concerns amid the ongoing war with the Hamas terror group.

Starting in March, Arkia is also adding new destinations to Greece, Hungary and Albania, as well as to Madrid, and will offer flights to a total of 30 destinations.

Since war broke out with the Hamas terror group following the October 7, 2023, onslaught on southern Israeli communities, foreign airlines have repeatedly canceled and resumed their flights to and from Israel. Since the hostage-ceasefire agreement took effect last month, alongside a ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group, a few foreign airlines, including US carriers, have announced plans to resume part of their services to and from Israel.