Arkia Airlines Files Administrative Petition for Unified Operations from Terminal 1

Arkia Airlines has filed an administrative petition against the Airports Authority and the Ministry of Transport, demanding to regulate its entire operation from Terminal 1, rather than being split between Terminals 1 and 3 as is currently the case. The company argues that the existing split puts it at a disadvantage compared to foreign airlines, despite these companies suspending their flights to Israel during the war, while Arkia maintained continuity of air operations.

In its petition, Arkia emphasizes that the Airports Authority and the Minister of Transport should establish equal and uniform criteria for operating flights from Terminal 1, taking into account weighty national interests. These include ensuring an open air link to Israel in routine and emergency times, and increasing the volume of flights to Eilat for the benefit of all citizens of the country. The petition notes that the existing criteria were set a decade ago in a completely different reality, and today they do not reflect the needs of air transport.

Currently, Arkia is forced to operate from two different terminals, leading to high operational costs. Meanwhile, foreign airlines that have ceased operations in Israel for more than a year and a half, will return to full operation from Terminal 1 - an unreasonable situation that puts Arkia in a difficult competitive position.

Arkia CEO, Oz Berlovich, said: "Arkia was and remains an Israeli airline committed to the public and the country. In difficult times, when the skies were emptied of foreign flights, Arkia remained to maintain an air connection to Israel and even opened a flight line to New York at the request of the Minister of Transport. Now it demands fair and equal treatment. The split between two terminals creates a heavy and unjustified burden, and we expect the Ministry of Transport to correct this distortion quickly."

As mentioned, the Israeli government decided this week to significantly and unilaterally increase the security costs imposed on airlines, particularly on Arkia, without providing solutions that would allow the company to compete with foreign airlines. This decision will create a significant economic burden on the company, which already operated under challenging conditions due to the security situation. Arkia warned that the move poses a great difficulty for the company. The company has made numerous requests to reconsider the decision and propose a plan that will assist the airlines.

The petition was filed through attorneys Raz Nazri, Avinoam Segal-Elad, and Nadim Aboud from the law firm of Piron.