Arkia Israel Airlines was first established in 1949 as a domestic Israeli airline that carried passengers within Isreal from Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to Eilat International Airport. Originally the Minister for Transport in Israel provided two 36-seat C-46 commandos from the Israeli Military. Histadrut or the General Organization of Workers in Israel and El Al Isreali Airlines who provided the flight crew had a 50% stake in the airline. In November 2018, Arkia became the launch customer for Airbus operating the worlds first A321LR (long-range) aircraft which they deployed from Tel Aviv to London Stansted Airport. Arkia mainly operates as a low-cost leisure airline servicing the holiday markets from various European cities to Eilat. You can purchase meals and refreshments on board and all meals are kosher. If you would like to have extra leg-room you can pay a small supplement at the time of reservation. Today Arkia operates its flights from Sde Dov Airport, with additional hubs at Eilat Airport in Tel Aviv and Ramon Airport in Eilat. Jordache Enterprises, American clothing company now owns a 75% majority shareholding of the airline and they operate utilising the IATA code of IZ.