Arkia goes long haul

Israel’s second airline Arkia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for up to four A330-900neo aircraft.

The commitment makes Arkia the first Airbus widebody customer in Israel and the first customer for the type in the region.  The aircraft will help the airline to expand its growing operations into long haul business and leisure markets.

Arkia’s A330-900neo will join the four A321neo aircraft ordered at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2012 and due over the next two years.  With Airbus’ Cross Crew Qualification concept, pilots and engineers can transition from the single-aisle A320 Family, to the twin-aisle A330 quickly and maintain both types with the same pool of pilots and engineers.  The A330neo also offers the latest in in-flight entertainment (IFE) plus mobile telephony and internet access service.

Established soon after the State of Israel in 1949 today the airline operates a fleet of five ATR 72-500 for domestic services and two 757s used on the Tel Aviv – Eilat scheduled flights and east European charters, plus a pair of Embraer 195s that operate to mid-range destinations such as Florence (Italy) and Tbilisi (Georgia).  www.arkia.com

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Rom Rosenblum, Alameda

I am curious to know the proposed routes. ALso, the relationship of the two carriers to each other... are they nationalized carriers? Whatever the case, glad to see this growth.