Arkia Airlines Partners with JetBlue to Enhance Travel Connections

Arkia Airlines, Israel's second-largest airline, has entered into an interline agreement with U.S. low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways. This partnership aims to facilitate seamless connections for passengers traveling from Israel to various destinations across the United States, the Caribbean, and Central America. The agreement follows Arkia's launch of direct flights from Tel Aviv to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, which began in early 2025.

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The interline agreement allows Arkia's schedule of up to seven weekly nonstop flights to JFK to be integrated with JetBlue's extensive network. This arrangement is designed to enhance the travel experience for Israeli passengers by enabling through-checked baggage from Ben Gurion International Airport to their final destinations on JetBlue. Additionally, it provides full passenger protection in the event of delays or changes across any flight segment. Key U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, Orlando, and Washington, D.C., along with various Caribbean and Central American destinations, will be more accessible to Arkia travelers.

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Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz emphasized that this agreement represents a significant step in strengthening the airline's long-haul operations and expanding customer services. He stated, “This agreement adds a significant layer to strengthening Arkia's long-haul operations and expanding the range of services for customers travelling to North America.” Similarly, JetBlue's Vice President David Jehn noted that the partnership enhances the airline's global reach, offering customers “a wider range of destinations and seamless connections” between flights.

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Arkia's expansion into long-haul flights positions it as a competitor to El Al Israel Airlines, the national carrier, which also has an interline agreement with JetBlue. However, a previous codeshare agreement between El Al and JetBlue ended in October, potentially giving Arkia a competitive edge in the market.

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While the partnership is seen as a positive development for Arkia and its customers, some industry analysts have raised concerns about the competitive dynamics between Arkia and El Al. The effectiveness of Arkia's strategy to capture market share from El Al remains to be seen, especially in light of the established presence of the national carrier.

The Algemeiner Journal

As Arkia Airlines continues to expand its international footprint, the success of this interline agreement will be closely monitored. Future developments may include additional partnerships or routes aimed at enhancing connectivity for Israeli travelers.

The Jerusalem Report

• “This agreement adds a significant layer to strengthening Arkia's long-haul operations and expanding the range of services for customers travelling to North America,” — Oz Berlowitz, CEO of Arkia Airlines

Reuters

• “allows us to expand our global reach and provides customers with a wider range of destinations and seamless connections between flights.” — David Jehn, Vice President at JetBlue Airways

Reuters