Full coverage· Economy· Updated 12:26

Israir Considers Acquiring Rival Airline Arkia

Israir Airlines CEO Uri Sirkis confirmed on Friday 6 November 2026 that the company is conducting an initial review of a potential acquisition of its competitor, Arkia Airlines. In a message to employees, Sirkis clarified that the discussions are in an early stage and the deal is not guaranteed, framing the move as an effort to strengthen Israeli aviation rather than a hostile takeover.

6 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 09:45

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Israir Considers Acquiring Rival Airline Arkia — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Israir Airlines CEO Uri Sirkis confirmed preliminary talks to acquire competitor Arkia Airlines, which is currently facing a deep crisis.
02The potential merger is in its initial review stages, and Sirkis emphasized there is no certainty that a deal will be completed.
03Sirkis stated the acquisition is not a takeover but a move to strengthen Israeli aviation by combining two established brands.
04The combined entity would operate a fleet of 20 aircraft under the Israeli flag, including five wide-body and fifteen narrow-body planes.
05The merger aims to achieve significant annual operational cost savings and target transporting 3.5 million passengers by 2030.
06Arkia CEO Oz Berlovich confirmed the ownership discussions, noting that they are a matter for the company's shareholders.
07The workers' committee of the Israel Airports Authority is also reportedly considering a bid for Arkia shares.

The potential merger comes amid a deep crisis for Arkia. If completed, the combined entity would operate under the Israeli flag with a fleet of 20 aircraft, including five wide-body and fifteen narrow-body planes. Sirkis stated that the consolidation could lead to significant annual operational cost savings and create a robust competitor capable of challenging global airlines on price and service, with a strategic goal to transport 3.5 million passengers by 2030.

Arkia CEO Oz Berlovich acknowledged the ownership discussions, stating they are a shareholder matter while management remains focused on operations. In parallel, the workers' committee of the Israel Airports Authority is also reportedly considering its own bid for Arkia shares.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 5 newsrooms. Updated 18:41