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Arkia

Travelers disembark an Electra plane at Ben Gurion International Airport. September 8, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)
Sharon Wrobel
Inside story
Sharon Wrobel
Israeli airlines often lease foreign planes and crew, while leaving extra security behind
Loophole means passengers who think they are flying an Israeli carrier can end up on another company's plane, with no special screenings of pilots or stringent procedures meant to avoid situation like the flydubai attack
An Arkia plane takes off at Ben Gurion Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, May 5, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
October 6, 2026, 5:22 am
Most Arkia and Israir flights use planes and crews leased from foreign airlines, in arrangement okayed by PM
‘Wet lease’ aircraft not subject to all of Israel’s stringent security protocols; Transportation Ministry sent security directives to foreign airlines day after flydubai attack, stressed that it is responsible for security of inbound flights
By Sharon Wrobel and Stav Levaton
Passengers from flydubai flight FZ1073 walk through the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion International Airport, after their original flight from Dubai to Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a terror attack by the copilot, who attacked the captain and tried to crash the plane, September 30, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
October 4, 2026, 9:41 pm
Security hurdles slow airlines’ effort to bring stranded Israelis home from Dubai
Air bridge is delayed as heightened security demands following the flydubai terror attack force checked luggage onto separate planes from passenger flights
By Sharon Wrobel
An Arkia plane takes off at Ben Gurion Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, May 5, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
October 2, 2026, 10:58 am
Arkia, Israir indicate UAE rescue flights are a go after El Al scraps its Friday repatriations
Statement from Israel’s flagship carrier says its landing permit was revoked, but other Israeli airlines say they have the necessary approvals to fly
By Sharon Wrobel and ToI Staff
Parked airplanes at Ben Gurion Airport, August 8, 2020 (Olivier Fitoussi/FLASH90/File)
October 1, 2026, 7:36 pm
Israeli carriers to start UAE repatriation flights Friday after flydubai cockpit attack
After flydubai suspends Tel Aviv route, El Al, Arkia and Israir plan special flights to pick up stranded Israelis from Dubai; others seek return via nearby Cyprus and Greece
By Sharon Wrobel
Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz with Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola (left) as Israeli airline announces launch of direct route to Manila. (Courtesy of Arkia, Yossi Aloni FLASH90)
September 8, 2026, 8:32 pm
New direct Tel Aviv-Manila route set to spur tourism and trade ties with Philippines
Arkia to launch first nonstop flights ​between Tel Aviv and Manila on Jan. 3, 2027; Philippine ambassador says new route is springboard to free trade agreement with Israel
By Sharon Wrobel
An Israir flight takes off from Ben Gurion International Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, August 25, 2024. (Yossi Aloni/ Flash90/ File)
September 7, 2026, 5:27 pm
Israir becomes third Israeli carrier with NYC route, just as US airlines make their return
Wizz Air expands Israel operations with increased weekly flights to European destinations; Delta restarts daily New York flights; United following suit Tuesday
By Sharon Wrobel
A United Airlines flight lands at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, March 31, 2025 (Yossi Aloni/ FLASH90)
September 2, 2026, 10:10 am
US airlines bring competition back to NYC route, but fares won’t begin descent for months
Delta and United returning after Iran war hiatus, as Israir set to debut New York service, but prices will stay elevated until November, experts say, and may remain turbulent as long as war fears persist
By Sharon Wrobel
An El Al plane takes off at the Ben Gurion International Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, August 4, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
August 5, 2026, 9:19 pm
El Al profit doubles as many major foreign airlines steer clear after Iran war
Flagship carrier capitalizes on dominant position and peak demand, fueling ‘outrageous’ prices as international carriers stay away
By Sharon Wrobel
An Arkia plane takes off from Ben Gurion Airport, outside Tel Aviv, August 14, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
July 8, 2026, 10:15 pm
Arkia employees vow to fight potential Haredi buyout that would halt Shabbat flights
Airline workers, who hold a 22% stake in company, threaten labor action and prepare further steps should talks with US real estate developer Rabbi Ezra Unger advance
By Sharon Wrobel
Travelers are seen at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, April 23, 2026. (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)
July 8, 2026, 7:31 pm
EU regulator eases restrictions on flights to Israel, urges avoiding Iran, Iraq, Lebanon airspaces
Advisory comes amid flare-up in violence between US and Iran; advisory urging caution in airspace of Israel withdrawn; Arkia to resume Morocco route after 3 years
By JTA and Sharon Wrobel
An Arkia plane takes off at Ben Gurion Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, May 5, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
June 13, 2026, 9:28 pm
Hungary scrambles fighter jets after Israeli passenger plane fails to contact ground control
Hungarian PM says incident Thursday triggered NATO’s highest level of alert, was resolved after jets saw Arkia plane, whose pilots then radioed local air officials
By ToI Staff
Passengers at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on June 8, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
June 8, 2026, 4:18 pm
Wizz Air halts flights to Israel, but most other carriers unaffected by renewed fighting
Israel keeps airspace open, with only Hungarian low-cost operator and Austrian Airlines canceling service; Transportation Ministry huddles over possible demand to limit airport passenger numbers
By Sharon Wrobel
US Air Force refueling aircraft are seen parked on the tarmac of the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on February 25, 2026. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)
May 11, 2026, 4:38 pm
Civil aviation head says US refuelers at Ben Gurion are crowding out civilian planes
Shmuel Zakai laments Israel’s airport is now a ‘US military base’; warns of higher fares, lower availability because the American planes are taking up all the parking spots
By Sharon Wrobel
Knesset Economics Affairs Committee, led by chairman MK David Bitan discusses compensation for airlines who suffered losses, and passengers whose flights were cancelled during the US-Israel war with Iran, May 10, 2026. (Courtesy of Knesset Economics Committee)
May 10, 2026, 10:13 pm
Knesset panel demands state help cover losses to passengers and airlines during Iran war
Request comes as major European and US airlines still avoiding Israel after Iran ceasefire came into effect, weighing future flight operations
By Sharon Wrobel
Illustrative: Travelers at Ben Gurion Airport during a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran, April 9, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90)
April 21, 2026, 7:35 am
Israeli airlines accused of reselling stranded customers’ seats for wartime windfall
Some carriers refunded travelers rather than offering to rebook them, seemingly breaking law but freeing up spots commanding sky-high prices
By Sharon Wrobel
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