Israeli airline Arkia is evaluating the Boeing 717 for its regional operations and is also studying the acquisition of the new Boeing 737s.
The Israeli private airline's management met with Boeing's Israeli sales director Jim Frank earlier this month to receive a briefing on the 115-seat 717 twinjet. According to Arkia's president Israel Borovitch, the 717-200 is being studied for operations on the airline's domestic routes, mainly on flights from Tel Aviv to Eilat and on the regional routes.
Boeing also briefed Arkia on the 180-seat 737-900, which the airline is studying as a possible addition to its international fleet.
Arkia operates a fleet of three jets - one Boeing 757-200 and two 757-300s. Its regional turboprop fleet includes four ATR 72-500 and six de Havilland Dash 7s. Arkia's network encompasses domestic, regional and international charter flights to European destinations. Arkia also has a leasing arm that owns 18 737-200s, four 747 freighters and one 757-200.
Source: Flight International
