El Al vs Israir vs Arkia: Which Israeli Airline Should You Fly? (2026 Guide)

Which Israeli airline should you fly — El Al, Israir, or Arkia? For long-haul international flights (especially North America) and the most reliable, full-service experience, El Al leads — but it’s the priciest. For cheaper fares, Arkia and Israir often undercut it dramatically: Arkia is the fast-expanding value option now flying long-haul (New York, the Far East) with a new business class, while Israir is the no-frills low-cost pick, strong on leisure Europe and budget travel. For domestic hops to Eilat, all three compete and the two smaller carriers are usually cheapest.

Israel has three home-grown airlines — El Al, Israir, and Arkia — and travelers ask the same question constantly: which one should they fly? The truth is they’re not simple substitutes for each other. El Al is the big international flag carrier; Israir and Arkia grew up as domestic and leisure carriers and are now expanding into long-haul. So the right choice depends heavily on where you’re going and what you’re optimizing for — price, reliability, service, or miles. (Already know you’re going and just need to plan the trip? Our guide to the best places to visit in Israel has you covered.)

This guide breaks down all three even-handedly: who they are, what they cost, how they compare on service and reliability, and exactly when each one makes the most sense.

Meet Israel’s three airlines

El Al is Israel’s flag carrier and by far its largest, handling roughly 38% of all traffic at Ben Gurion Airport. It flies the widest network — over 50 destinations across North America, Europe, and Asia — and positions itself as the full-service, premium option, complete with a frequent-flyer program (Matmid) and a long-standing tradition of not operating flights on Shabbat.

Arkia, founded in 1949, is a veteran carrier that started life connecting Tel Aviv to the Red Sea resort of Eilat. Long known for leisure routes to Europe and the Mediterranean, Arkia has, in the past two years, made an aggressive push into long-haul — New York, Bangkok, Hanoi, Tokyo — and even introduced a business-class product, positioning itself as the value challenger to El Al.

Israir, owned by the Rami Levy retail group, is Israel’s low-cost carrier. It built its reputation on domestic Eilat flights and budget-friendly leisure routes to Europe and the Mediterranean, and it’s now moving into long-haul too, acquiring wide-body aircraft to launch transatlantic service pitched explicitly at price-sensitive travelers.

One thing all three share: they operate under Israel’s rigorous aviation security framework, and all serve kosher meals — points worth knowing whichever you choose.

El Al vs Israir vs Arkia at a glance

Now the detail on each.

El Al: the flag carrier

If you want the widest network and the most full-service experience, El Al is the default — and for long-haul routes, especially to and from North America, it’s often the obvious choice simply because it flies them most frequently. El Al’s summer 2026 schedule runs around 900 weekly flights to more than 50 destinations, including the most extensive North America operation in its history (up to seven daily flights to New York’s JFK and Newark, plus Miami, Los Angeles, and Boston).

What you’re paying for:

• Reliability. This is El Al’s biggest draw, and it’s a real one. Travelers repeatedly say they’ll pay more for El Al because it’s the carrier least likely to cancel or suspend during regional instability — during the recent conflict, Israeli carriers kept the country connected when many foreign airlines pulled out, and El Al was central to that.
• Service and cabins. Full-service economy, premium economy, and lie-flat business class on long-haul, with the Matmid frequent-flyer program for earning and redeeming miles.
• Network depth. Nonstops to places the smaller carriers simply don’t serve as often, and the broadest schedule if your dates are fixed.

The trade-off is price. El Al is consistently the most expensive of the three, sometimes by a wide margin — on some routes its fares run nearly double what Arkia charges. Choose El Al when you’re flying long-haul (particularly North America), when reliability matters more than saving money, when you want to earn or spend miles, or when you specifically prefer a carrier that doesn’t fly on Shabbat.

Arkia: the value challenger

Arkia has spent the last two years transforming from a leisure-and-domestic carrier into a genuine competitor on long-haul — and doing it on price. It now flies to New York (up to six times weekly), Bangkok, Hanoi, and is launching Tokyo, alongside its traditional roster of European and Mediterranean leisure destinations, and it recently debuted a business-class cabin starting with Tel Aviv–Paris.

The headline is cost. On routes where Arkia and El Al compete directly, Arkia frequently undercuts by a lot: on one Tokyo comparison its round-trip fare came in around $1,498 versus El Al’s $2,778, and its new Paris business-class fares launched well below El Al’s equivalent. For a direct flight at a lower price, Arkia is often the sharpest deal in the market.

The caveats, drawn from frequent-flyer reports: Arkia’s English-language website and phone support have historically been weaker, some fares add up once you pay for meals, seats, and baggage, and on certain routes it has used leased aircraft and crews. Service is generally described as functional rather than premium. Choose Arkia when you want a direct flight at a real discount to El Al, when you’re heading to a European or Mediterranean leisure spot it serves, or when its long-haul fares meaningfully beat the flag carrier and you don’t mind a more basic experience.

Israir: the low-cost option

Israir is the budget play. Owned by the value-focused Rami Levy group, it built its network on domestic Eilat flights and inexpensive leisure routes to Europe and the Mediterranean — Athens, Larnaca, the Greek islands, and a growing list of European cities like Rome, Berlin, Budapest, and new additions such as Madrid, Bari, and Düsseldorf. It’s now moving into long-haul with wide-body aircraft, planning transatlantic service to New York and Miami aimed squarely at price-sensitive travelers.

What to expect: a no-frills experience. Reviews describe attentive crews but minimal extras — water and a snack rather than full service — and historically a Hebrew-first website (an English version has been in the works). Fares tend to be among the lowest of the three. Choose Israir when price is your top priority, when you’re taking a leisure trip to a European or Mediterranean destination it serves, when you’re flying domestically to Eilat, or when its upcoming budget transatlantic fares beat everything else and you’re happy to travel light on frills.

Which is cheapest?

If cost is the deciding factor, the pattern is consistent: Israir and Arkia both routinely undercut El Al, often substantially, while Israir generally sits at the very bottom on price and Arkia offers a middle ground with a slightly more complete product. The gap can be dramatic — El Al fares running close to double the smaller carriers’ on some routes.

Two important caveats. First, fares fluctuate enormously by date, season, and demand, so a route where El Al is double one week may be near-parity the next — always compare live. Second, the smaller carriers’ low headline fares can climb once you add baggage, seat selection, and meals, so compare the total price, not the teaser. If you’re weighing overall trip costs, our cost of living in Israel guide covers what to budget once you land.

Which is most reliable and comfortable?

On reliability and service, El Al has a real edge, and it’s the reason many travelers pay its premium — the most frequent schedules, the deepest network, lie-flat business class, a proper frequent-flyer program, and a track record of staying operational through instability. If your trip can’t absorb a cancellation, El Al is the safer bet.

Arkia and Israir are perfectly serviceable for what they are — direct, affordable, no-frills flights — but the experience is more variable: leaner service, occasional leased aircraft, weaker English-language support, and fewer daily frequencies to fall back on if something goes wrong. All three, it’s worth repeating, operate under Israel’s stringent security procedures, so on that front you’re in careful hands whichever you fly.

Flying domestic: Tel Aviv to Eilat

For the short domestic hop between the center of the country and the Red Sea, the picture is simpler. With Sde Dov and the old Eilat airport now closed, domestic Eilat flights run between Ben Gurion and Ramon Airport (about 30 minutes north of Eilat), and Israir and Arkia are the main players, with El Al also in the mix. These flights are quick and usually cheap, and the choice mostly comes down to schedule and price on your dates — Israir often edges out slightly cheaper, Arkia sometimes offers more frequency. For a fast beach escape, any of them does the job.

So which should you choose?

Cutting through it all, here’s the decision by trip type:

• Long-haul international, especially North America → El Al first for reliability and frequency; check Arkia (and soon Israir) for a cheaper direct alternative if your dates are flexible.
• Budget trip to Europe or the Mediterranean → Israir or Arkia, whichever is cheaper on your dates; expect no-frills.
• You want the lowest possible price → Israir, then Arkia — but compare the all-in total with baggage and extras.
• Reliability is non-negotiable → El Al.
• You collect miles / want business class on long-haul → El Al (with Arkia now an option for a cheaper business seat on select routes).
• Domestic to Eilat → Israir or Arkia on price and schedule.

There’s no single “best” airline — only the best one for your route, dates, and priorities. Compare all three live for your specific trip, and factor in the total cost, not just the headline fare.

Booking tips for Israel’s airlines

A few practical pointers that seasoned travelers swear by when booking El Al, Arkia, or Israir:

• Compare live, on every trip. Because fares swing so much by date and season, the “cheapest” airline changes constantly. Check all three for your exact dates rather than assuming.
• Add up the all-in fare. The low-cost carriers’ headline prices often exclude baggage, seat selection, and meals. Price the total, not the teaser, before deciding.
• Book direct where you can. The airlines’ own sites (and phone lines) sometimes surface deals that third-party sites miss, and booking direct simplifies changes and refunds, which matter on a volatile route. Israel’s Transportation Ministry has advised booking directly through the airlines’ official websites or authorized agents.
• Mind the language and interface. Arkia’s and Israir’s English-language websites have historically been clunkier than El Al’s; if a site is fighting you, a phone call often helps, and many of their leisure routes are seasonal and easy to miss online entirely.
• Prioritize flexibility on long-haul. Given how much Israel schedules have shifted, refundable or changeable fares are worth the small premium, especially for flights to and from North America.

A note on 2026: a market in flux

Worth flagging, because it shapes everything above. Following the 2026 conflict and the reopening of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s aviation market is unusually dynamic. Israeli carriers stepped into the gap left by suspended foreign airlines and now command a large share of traffic; Arkia and Israir are both expanding fleets and launching long-haul routes; and with more capacity, lower fuel costs, and a strong shekel, 2026 fares have been trending downward. Foreign carriers are returning in waves, but schedules are still shifting week to week, and summer capacity has been squeezed at times by airport constraints.

The practical takeaway: check current schedules and book flexible, refundable fares, especially on long-haul. Our airlines flying to Israel guide tracks who’s operating right now, and the Israel Airports Authority publishes live status — both are worth checking before you book.

Flying to Israel for more than a trip?

Here’s a thought for a particular kind of traveler. A lot of people comparing these airlines aren’t booking a quick vacation at all — they’re flying out to live in Israel for a while: a gap year before college, an internship in Tel Aviv’s startup scene, a few months immersing in the language and the culture, a program that turns a visit into a whole chapter of life. If that’s you, choosing an airline is just the first of a hundred logistics questions — and there’s a way to make the other ninety-nine disappear.

Picture landing at Ben Gurion with everything already handled: your apartment, your insurance, your Hebrew classes, a built-in community of people who become your closest friends, and trips across the country already planned. No lease to sign, no bureaucracy to fight, nothing to figure out alone. You step off the plane and into a life that’s set up and waiting. That’s a Masa program — you live in Israel for anywhere from a few weeks to ten months, with the hard parts carried for you and a grant in your pocket, so all your energy goes into the experience itself.

Whatever you’re chasing, there’s a track for it: a gap year in Israel before college, a career-building internship in tech, business, or marketing, or one of dozens of immersive programs. And once you’re on the ground, our guide to building a career here will help you make the most of it.

Find your program in Israel → · Explore gap year options → · Browse 6–8 week programs →

So book the airline that fits your trip. And if the trip is really the beginning of something bigger, don’t just visit Israel — come live it. Yalla.

FAQs About El Al vs Israir vs Arkia

Which is the best Israeli airline: El Al, Israir, or Arkia?

There’s no single best — it depends on your trip. El Al is best for long-haul international flights, reliability, and full service, but it’s the most expensive. Arkia is the value challenger, expanding on long-haul with cheaper fares and a new business class. Israir is the low-cost option, strongest on budget leisure routes and domestic flights.

Which Israeli airline is cheapest?

Israir is generally the lowest-priced, with Arkia close behind; both routinely undercut El Al, sometimes by nearly half on the same route. Always compare the all-in fare including baggage and extras, since low-cost headline prices can rise once you add them.

Is El Al worth the higher price?

For many travelers, yes — especially on long-haul and when reliability matters. El Al flies the most frequent schedules, has the deepest network, offers business class and a frequent-flyer program, and has a strong record of staying operational during regional instability. For budget leisure trips, the cheaper carriers often make more sense.

Do Arkia and Israir fly internationally?

Yes. Both began as domestic and leisure carriers but have expanded significantly. Arkia flies long-haul to New York, Bangkok, Hanoi, and is adding Tokyo, plus many European and Mediterranean routes. Israir serves numerous European and Mediterranean destinations and is launching transatlantic service to New York and Miami.

Which airline should I fly from the US to Israel?

El Al operates the most frequent nonstop service between North America and Tel Aviv and is the most established choice. Arkia also flies New York, often at a lower fare, and Israir is entering the route as a low-cost option. Compare frequency, price, and flexibility for your dates.

Do all three airlines serve kosher food and follow Israeli security?

Yes. El Al, Israir, and Arkia all serve kosher meals and operate under Israel’s rigorous aviation security procedures. El Al is also known for not operating flights on Shabbat, while Arkia and Israir do fly then.