Arkia on Monday officially unveiled its spring-summer 2026 schedule and announced that for the first time it will introduce a business class cabin on flights to several European destinations, initially launching the service on its 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. Meals will be served on porcelain tableware, with an expanded alcohol menu.
The starting price for a one-way business class ticket to Paris will be $850, the company said. For comparison, a check of June 15–22 fares shows that an El Al round-trip business class ticket costs about $1,803, including a checked bag and carry-on, while Air France charges about $2,339 for the same dates. Arkia’s pricing is therefore competitive on the route.
The business class product will be offered on narrow-body A320 aircraft used for short- and medium-haul European flights. It will follow the standard European business class configuration at the front of the cabin, rather than offering fully flat beds as on transatlantic routes. Arkia emphasized that the product includes upgraded service both on the ground and in the air, with a relatively small cabin of just 12 seats.
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. For Arkia, the move broadens its offerings and positions it in the premium travel market to Europe, where it competes with El Al and foreign carriers operating direct flights to Paris and other major destinations.
Alongside the business class launch, Arkia presented its full spring-summer 2026 route network, which will include about 40 destinations across North America, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean basin. In North America, the airline will continue operating flights to New York. In Asia, it will fly to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand and to Hanoi in Vietnam.
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In Europe and the Balkans, destinations include Malaga, Ibiza, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Rome, Barcelona, Prague, Geneva, Munich, Milan, Verona, Vienna, Lisbon, Basel, Baku, Budapest, Batumi, Tbilisi, Tirana, Tivat, Vilnius and Belgrade.
In the Mediterranean and Africa, Arkia will operate flights to Athens, Crete, Mykonos, Thessaloniki, Preveza, Kalamata, Corfu, Rhodes, Larnaca, Paphos and Dubai. The airline also announced it will resume flights to the Seychelles next summer, alongside continued service to Zanzibar.
At the press conference, CEO Oz Berlowitz announced that a new aircraft in the fleet will be named after Israeli singer and songwriter Yehoram Gaon, who attended the event. The move continues the company’s tradition of naming aircraft after Israeli artists and cultural figures in recognition of their contributions, and marks the first time Arkia has named a plane after an artist during his lifetime.