Arkia Airlines will begin flying new immigrants to Israel for the Jewish Agency

Arkia will also fly in immigrants from Ukraine in December on the new route the carrier is inaugurating from Kiev
 
Arkia Airlines Ltd. recently signed an agreement with Jewish Agency to begin flying new immigrants to Israel.
 
In a statement issued by the company it noted that over the past year, 15,875 immigrants have come to Israel. An additional 1,000 immigrants are expected in December on Arkia flights from Paris.
 
Arkia will also fly in immigrants from Ukraine in December on the new route the carrier is inaugurating from Kiev.
 
Arkia CEO Gadi Tepper said that as part of their new agreement the carrier would give the Jewish Agency preferential rates, and will allow immigrants to bring excess baggage. Arkia will also operate special flights only for immigrants. Tepper added that "We are thrilled about the opportunity to take part in the Jewish agency's Zionist project and hope that the number of immigrants gradually rises with time”.
 
Based on data published in the past, El Al which had a monopoly in flying new immigrants earned $2.5 million annually from services provided to the Jewish Agency. The new agreement ends the monopoly El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. has held for decades.