Soar with Arkia Israeli Airlines

Arkia, formally known as Arkia Israeli Airlines has the inspiring motto 'I will soar'. Israel's second-largest airline, it operates both domestic and international schedules flights as well as charter flights to destinations throughout the Mediterranean and Western Europe. The airline was founded in 1949 as Israel Inland Airlines when it became apparent that there was demand for an airline to connect destinations across then newly founded Israel with Tel Aviv.

Flights started in 1950 with the De Havilland DH 89 aircraft, connecting major towns in Israel from the North to the port of Eliat in the south of the country. Throughout the 1950s the airline continued to grow, upgrading its fleet to the bigger DC-3 aircraft and operating two flights a day between Tel Aviv to Eliat. This allowed Arkia to boast annual passenger numbers of more than 70,000. The airline underwent a period of rapid growth and development during the 1980s, moving into the international charter flight market and airline maintenance. In 2007, the Israeli Tourism Ministry awarded Arkia Israeli Airlines a scheduled operator airline to fly to Larnaca, and in 2008, obtained a licence to fly to Paris. During this period, the airline announced it would add two Boeing 737 planes to its fleet as well as four Boeing Dreamliner aircraft. At present, Arkia Israeli Airlines flies to 25 cities in 16 different countries and has 3 domestic and 22 international destinations. The airline also operates a codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines.

Flying with Arkia Israeli Airlines

The airline offers great-value prices on both domestic flights and vacation packages between Tel Aviv and Eliat including many of Israel's best hotels. These holiday packages include tours of the country's most popular cities and places of interest. The airline also operates excursions to Petra and a range of international flights and holiday packages from Europe to Israel. Arkia operates a system of low-cost flights known as the Low Cost range. These include domestic flights from Ben-Gurion airport to Tel Aviv from $25 and domestic flights from Sde Dov airport to Tel Aviv from $38. The airline also offers vacation packages to destinations around Israel including Jerusalem, Nahariya and Kiryat Shmona. Passengers can also opt for Arkia Business, a newly introduced premium service on the airline's domestic flights from Tel Aviv-Sde Dov to Eilat offering premium quality travel at affordable prices.

Practical Information for Arkia Israeli Airlines

Check-in: Passengers can check in online with the Web check-in feature on the airline's website. Web check-in speeds up your check-in process by giving you the option to check-in and print your boarding pass from your computer prior to your flight. Your e-boarding pass will also be sent to your email address and allows you to check-in your luggage, select your seat and choose between meal options.

Luggage:

• The maximum domestic flight baggage allowance (including Arkia Low Cost flights) is 20 kg. The baggage allowance for non-Israeli tourists on domestic Low Cost flights is also 20kg. Baggage that exceeds this weight incurs an excess baggage charge.

• In addition, each passenger may bring one carry-on item weighing a maximum of 7 kg and measuring no more than 20 x 40 x 55 cm. Please note that hand luggage is weighed at the airport and will be sent to the cargo hold if it exceeds the allowance. Under IATA rules, baggage items weighing more than 23 kg cannot be transported.

• For more information see here: [http://www.arkia.com/faq-flying-arkia-c146].