Published on : 18 Feb 2026
Breaking — Announced Today: Arkia Airlines — Israel’s third-largest carrier — unveiled its spring–summer 2026 flight schedule at a breakfast press event in Tel Aviv this morning, announcing an ambitious network expansion to approximately 40 destinations across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin, including brand new routes to Phuket (Thailand), Vilnius (Lithuania), Málaga (Spain — first time ever), resumed service to Ibiza (Spain), and — in a historic first for the 72-year-old carrier — the introduction of Business Class on select European routes beginning with Tel Aviv–Paris, featuring 12 enclosed seats on Airbus A320 aircraft with VIP service, lounge access, porcelain tableware, and expanded alcohol menus at $850 one-way (significantly undercutting El Al’s $1,803 and Air France’s $2,339 for comparable dates), while simultaneously deepening long-haul activity to New York (6x weekly), Bangkok (existing), Hanoi (existing), and now Phuket (competing head-to-head with El Al for the first time on Thailand beach routes) — representing the most significant network transformation in Arkia’s post-2023 war recovery strategy and positioning the carrier as a genuine alternative to El Al for Israeli travellers seeking direct access to the world’s most sought-after leisure and business destinations. Here is the complete route map, booking guide, and what every Israeli and international traveller needs to know today.
Published: February 18, 2026 Announcement: Tel Aviv press breakfast event (Pastel Restaurant) — this morning Total Destinations Summer 2026: ~40 across 4 continents NEW Routes Announced:
Arkia’s spring–summer 2026 schedule represents the carrier’s most ambitious network expansion in decades — covering leisure beach destinations, cultural European cities, and competitive long-haul markets.
Phuket, Thailand (NEW — July 2026):
On the Tel Aviv–Phuket route, Arkia will compete with El Al, which already operates direct flights on the line. There are also many connection flights to Phuket from Israel via the UAE and Ethiopia.
Phuket is Thailand’s premier beach destination — the Andaman Sea island famous for limestone cliffs, turquoise water, and resort infrastructure that makes it the single most popular long-haul leisure destination from Israel after the United States. Over 400,000 Israelis visited Thailand in 2024, making it Israel’s #1 long-haul destination outside North America.
Existing Asia Routes (Continuing):
Málaga, Spain (NEW — First Time Ever):
Málaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol region, is known for its beautiful beaches, pleasant weather, and vibrant nightlife, making it a top destination for summer travellers.
Málaga is Spain’s sixth-largest city and the gateway to the Costa del Sol — the 150-kilometer Mediterranean coastline that includes Marbella, Torremolinos, and Benalmádena. For Israeli travellers, Málaga offers direct beach access, Picasso Museum cultural appeal, and significantly lower cost-of-living than Tel Aviv — making week-long stays feasible at €1,000–1,500 all-in versus €2,500+ for comparable Israeli coast holidays.
Ibiza, Spain (RESUMED):
Ibiza, on the other hand, is famous for being one of Europe’s most popular party destinations, attracting tourists from all over the world.
For Israeli millennials and Gen Z, Ibiza represents the quintessential European summer — Pacha, Ushuaïa, and Amnesia nightclubs draw global DJs, while Cala Comte beaches offer daytime Mediterranean perfection. Arkia resuming Ibiza after a 2.5-year pause signals confidence that Israeli leisure demand has recovered from the October 2023 war impacts.
Vilnius, Lithuania (NEW):
Vilnius — Lithuania’s capital and largest city — is Eastern Europe’s fastest-growing tech hub, drawing Israeli startup founders, venture capitalists, and tech workers for conferences, partnerships, and talent recruitment. The city’s Old Town UNESCO World Heritage status, baroque architecture, and €50–80/night hotel costs make it compelling for budget-conscious cultural travellers who want European charm without Paris or Rome prices.
New York JFK (Expanded to 6x Weekly):
In January 2025, Arkia announced it would begin direct flights between NYC and Tel Aviv starting on 8 February 2025 using Airbus A330-900 aircraft operated by Iberojet.
Arkia’s New York entry in early 2025 was opportunistic — US carriers (United, Delta) suspended Israel routes post-October 2023, creating a capacity gap. Arkia leased widebodies and filled that gap. Now in 2026, with 6x weekly frequency, Arkia has established itself as a permanent Tel Aviv–New York operator — no longer just filling a temporary void.
Continuing Mediterranean operations (Summer 2026):
Greece remains Arkia’s bread-and-butter European leisure market — Israeli families book week-long Crete or Rhodes holidays at €1,200–1,800 per person, significantly cheaper than equivalent Israeli domestic or Red Sea resort costs. Arkia operates multiple daily summer flights to Greek islands, making it the dominant Israeli carrier on these routes (ahead of El Al’s more limited Greek network).
For the first time in Arkia’s 72-year history, the carrier is introducing Business Class on European routes — beginning with Tel Aviv–Paris.
Arkia said it will, for the first time, offer Business Class on a range of European routes, beginning with the Tel Aviv–Paris route. According to the airline, the new business class will operate on Airbus A320 aircraft and include 12 seats at the front of the plane, full VIP service, lounge access, dedicated check-in and boarding, and two checked bags of up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds) each in addition to a carry-on.
Business Class Product Details:
Competitive Pricing Comparison (Tel Aviv–Paris):
Arkia is undercutting El Al by 53% and Air France by 64% on one-way Business Class fares — a dramatic price gap that targets Israeli business travellers who previously had no choice but El Al or paid full Air France premium pricing.
Why Paris first? Paris is the #1 European business destination from Israel — tech conferences, fashion industry connections, finance meetings, and cultural ties make CDG the busiest Israel-Europe business route. Arkia’s CEO Oz Berlowitz explicitly framed Business Class as responding to “strong demand for premium products” — meaning corporate travel budgets that can afford $850 but balk at $1,803.
The expansion of business class to Europe follows the launch of business cabins on Arkia’s long-haul routes to New York and the Far East. The airline said the decision was driven by strong demand for premium products.
Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz framed today’s announcement as the culmination of a multi-year transformation following the October 2023 war and subsequent Israeli aviation crisis.
Berlowitz said Arkia is “operat[ing] consistently in accordance with its strategic plan” to expand destinations, deepen long-haul activity, and improve service, while offering “quality service, fair prices, and an advanced flight experience.”
“The launch of the New York route at the beginning of 2025 marked the beginning of our journey,” he said, noting that this experience prepared the company for the current large-scale move. Berlowitz added that after “two difficult years of war and dealing with unprecedented crises,” Arkia is focused on the future, aiming to expand its destinations and upgrade its service.
The “smaller, tighter, better” philosophy in practice:
Arkia’s post-war recovery strategy mirrors the broader Israeli aviation market reality: Israel’s geographic isolation + regional security concerns = limited Middle East connectivity, making direct long-haul routes essential for both business and leisure travel. Every additional Arkia nonstop reduces Israeli travellers’ dependence on European/Gulf hubs.
Arkia’s 40-destination expansion arrives in the context of fierce competition with El Al — Israel’s flag carrier and largest airline.
El Al, Israel’s largest airline, has recently unveiled its summer 2026 schedule, offering an impressive 900 weekly flights to over 50 destinations worldwide. The airline’s expansion plans include operating 55 weekly flights to North America, marking the largest-ever presence on the continent for El Al.
El Al vs Arkia — Head-to-Head Comparison:
| Metric | El Al | Arkia |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Size | ~45 aircraft (737, 787) | ~20 aircraft (A320, A321LR, leased A330) |
| Weekly Flights | 900 | ~200–250 (estimated) |
| Destinations | 50+ | ~40 |
| North America | 55 weekly (NYC, Miami, LAX, etc.) | 6 weekly (NYC only) |
| Asia Long-Haul | Tokyo, Seoul, Manila, Bangkok, Hanoi, Phuket | Bangkok, Hanoi, Phuket |
| Business Class | All long-haul + select European | Long-haul + NEW Paris European |
| Market Position | Flag carrier, dominant | #3, growing fast |
Where Arkia is winning:
Where El Al still dominates:
Shortly after Arkia’s move to expand in East Asia, El Al announced the launch of direct routes to Seoul, Manila, and Hanoi. In Hanoi, El Al will be able to compete with Arkia starting in October 2026, after Arkia also competed with it on the routes to New York and Bangkok, and ahead of the competition between them on Phuket starting July.
The pattern is clear: Arkia enters a route first (often with lower fares), El Al responds within 6–12 months with its own service. The question is whether Israeli market demand can support two carriers on routes like Phuket and Hanoi, or whether one carrier will ultimately exit.
In a unique moment during today’s announcement, Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz revealed that a new aircraft in the fleet will be named after Israeli singer and songwriter Yehoram Gaon, who attended the press event.
Gaon is an Israel Prize recipient for his contribution to Hebrew song and an Honorary Citizen of Jerusalem, Arkia noted. The airline also cited his selection to light a torch at the state ceremony on Mount Herzl in 2017.
The move continues Arkia’s tradition of naming aircraft after Israeli artists and cultural figures — but marks the first time Arkia has named a plane after an artist during his lifetime. Yehoram Gaon, now 84, is one of Israel’s most beloved musical icons — his 1970s and 1980s hits remain cultural touchstones across multiple generations of Israelis.
The symbolic weight of this decision should not be underestimated. By naming an aircraft after Gaon while he can witness it, Arkia is making a statement about Israeli cultural continuity and resilience post-October 2023 — a message that resonates deeply with its core domestic customer base.
✅ Phuket (July): Bookings likely opening March–April 2026. Set fare alert at Google Flights TLV→HKT. Expect $699–899 one-way based on Arkia’s Hanoi pricing
✅ Málaga (July–Oct): $279 one-way announced — book immediately when sales open. This is Arkia’s first-ever Málaga service, initial fares will sell out fast
✅ Ibiza (July–Aug): $299 one-way — peak Ibiza season, book early. Sundays + Thursdays = limited weekly capacity
✅ Vilnius (Summer): $370 one-way — Lithuanian summer is May–August, book for June–July optimal weather
✅ Paris Business Class: $850 one-way — available for booking now at arkia.com. Compare to El Al $1,803 roundtrip (Arkia = 53% cheaper)
Economy:
Business Class:
Arkia primarily serves Israeli-origin passengers, but international travellers CAN book Arkia flights:
While Arkia battles El Al, Israel’s second-largest carrier Israir is also expanding aggressively:
Israir also aims to expand to long-haul destinations and is considering opening direct routes to major destinations in the US, including New York and Miami, as well as to destinations in East Asia, including Japan. Unlike Arkia, which leases aircraft, Israir is in the process of purchasing wide-body aircraft.
Israir’s 2026 plans:
The Israeli aviation market is experiencing unprecedented competition — three major carriers (El Al, Arkia, Israir) plus foreign carriers (Turkish, Lufthansa, BA, Air France) all vying for the same 9.5 million Israeli outbound travellers. This competition is excellent news for passengers: lower fares, higher frequency, better service.
Arkia Airlines’ 40-destination summer 2026 network — unveiled this morning in Tel Aviv — represents Israel’s third-largest carrier making its boldest competitive move against El Al in decades, launching first-ever nonstop service to Phuket (Thailand beach competition), Vilnius (Eastern Europe tech hub), and Málaga (Spain’s Costa del Sol), resuming Ibiza party island flights, introducing Business Class on European routes starting with Tel Aviv–Paris at $850 one-way (53% cheaper than El Al), and expanding New York to 6x weekly alongside existing Bangkok, Hanoi, and Mediterranean leisure networks. CEO Oz Berlowitz’s “smaller, tighter, better” post-war strategy is delivering direct access to 40 global destinations via leased widebody Airbus A330s and employee-owned operational flexibility that El Al’s government-constrained structure cannot match. For Israeli travellers, Arkia’s expansion means genuine choice: pay El Al’s premium for flag-carrier status and Matmid miles, or save 20–40% flying Arkia’s expanding network with competitive service. Summer 2026 bookings open soon — the passengers who move first get the $279 Málaga, $299 Ibiza, and $370 Vilnius inaugural fares.
Your Arkia Summer 2026 Booking Checklist:
✅ Phuket Thailand? Set fare alert TLV→HKT — expect $699–899 one-way, bookings opening March–April ✅ Málaga Spain? $279 one-way FIRST-EVER service — book immediately when sales open ✅ Ibiza party island? $299 one-way July–Aug — Sundays + Thursdays only, limited capacity ✅ Vilnius Lithuania? $370 one-way — tech hub + cultural tourism — book for June–July ✅ Paris Business Class? $850 one-way vs El Al $1,803 — 53% savings — book at arkia.com NOW ✅ New York? 6x weekly A330 widebody — competing with El Al/United/Delta
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Posted By : Vinay
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