The Israeli Arkia airline has signed an ACMI (wet-lease) agreement with Portugal’s Hi Fly for an Airbus A330-200 wide-body, which will enter service in mid-October, operating the airline’s long-haul routes, including New York and Bangkok. The aircraft will carry Arkia’s external livery and is configured with a new business-class cabin.
The A330-200 will feature 20 lie-flat business-class seats and is meant to “significantly upgrade service quality and the passenger experience on long-haul flights,” the company said in Hebrew. With the addition of the wide-body, Arkia says it will be able to offer a business-class product across its long-haul fleet.
“Adding another wide-body aircraft with top-tier business class is another significant step for Arkia,” CEO Oz Berlowitz said. “The aircraft will allow us to upgrade service on long-haul flights and offer business class across our wide-body fleet. We are continuing to execute our strategy and vision to be an Israeli alternative on long routes at market-breaking prices.”
Who is Hi Fly?
Hi Fly is a Portuguese wet-lease specialist that provides aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance to airlines worldwide. The company operates a fleet that includes Airbus wide-bodies and has previously highlighted the A330-200’s long range and reliability for global ACMI operations.
Arkia has expanded long-haul flying this year, introducing a business-class service on its Tel Aviv–New York route in the spring. The airline has already announced an expansion into the Far East that includes Bangkok, with the route highlighted again in its winter 2025–26 schedule. Sunday’s A330-200 lease is expected to support that network.