Arkia Airlines Streamlines Service: Direct Tel Aviv Flights Only

Planning to fly with Arkia Airlines to Israel? Here’s an important update that could affect your travel plans. The Israeli carrier has announced they’re streamlining their operations to focus exclusively on direct flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

In a notice to travel agents, Arkia confirmed they’re discontinuing all connecting flights and departures through Eilat’s Ramon Airport. This means if you’re booking with Arkia, you’ll be flying directly into Tel Aviv – which could actually be more convenient for most international visitors since Ben Gurion is Israel’s main international gateway.

The airline is also working to add an Airbus A330 to their fleet, which suggests they’re focusing on expanding their international route capacity. For travelers, this could mean more direct flight options and potentially better scheduling from your home country.

If you were planning to use Eilat as a stopover or entry point, you’ll want to check with other airlines or consider flying directly into Ben Gurion and taking domestic transport to southern Israel. The drive from Tel Aviv to Eilat takes about 4.5 hours, or you can catch a domestic flight with other carriers.