ISRAEL: Arkia Lacks Approvals for Tokyo Flights, Reviews Options

TEL AVIV, Israel

• Israeli leisure carrier Arkia has not received the required approvals from Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau to operate direct flights to Tokyo using wet-leased aircraft.
• Passengers booked on what would have been its inaugural flights are being offered alternatives via Vietnam and Thailand, the option to change destinations, or a full refund.

"Arkia has been working for many months to promote the operation of direct flights to Tokyo and to obtain all the necessary approvals. Unfortunately, despite the many efforts the company has invested with the Japanese authorities, the Japanese authorities do not at this stage allow the flights to be operated using a wet-leased aircraft, as Arkia currently operates some of its flights to various destinations around the world."

• Meanwhile, Arkia is continuing to pursue approval to operate the route using its own fleet and hopes to secure the necessary permits in the coming weeks.
• Arkia has wet-leased an A330-200 from Hi Fly Malta for use on flights between Tel Aviv and New York JFK.
• According to US Department of Transportation (DOT) records, Arkia has approval to use wet-leased Hi Fly A330s for a total of 349 return trips between 12 March 2026 and 31 March 2027. It also has permission to wet-lease in 767/777/A330 capacity from another Portuguese ACMI specialist, euroAtlantic Airways, covering the period 17 July 2026 to 15 September 2027.
• Japanese news outlets have also stated that Arkia had planned to wet-lease in A330 capacity from Bulgaria's Gullivair and A340-300 capacity from Germany's Universal Sky Carrier in place of Hi Fly. At present, Arkia's booking portal continues to show USC as the operating carrier.

Sources:

• Passportnews
• Traicy
• Regulations.gov