Israeli Airlines Complete Historic First Landings at North Pole Gateway

Israeli airline Arkia, in collaboration with Spirit Productions, recently completed a historic aviation milestone by operating four special flights to Longyearbyen Airport, the northernmost airport in the world and the gateway to the Arctic Svalbard archipelago. This marks the first time Israeli planes have landed at this Arctic destination. The flights were conducted using an Airbus A320 and included a technical stopover in Helsinki, Finland, for refueling before continuing to Longyearbyen.

Arkia CEO Oz Berlovitz highlighted the project as a demonstration of the airline's operational capabilities and flexibility, emphasizing pride in leading unique and challenging aviation missions beyond their regular routes. Spirit Productions CEO and owner Tali Yativ described reaching Svalbard as fulfilling a vision and opening a new chapter in Israeli tourism history. She praised the professional and efficient cooperation with Arkia, noting the airline’s experience and commitment as key to the unprecedented project's success.

The flights represent a pioneering step in Israeli tourism and aviation, expanding the country's reach to remote and extraordinary global destinations. Both companies expressed eagerness to continue breaking new ground together in future ventures.