Aircraft

Israeli carrier Arkia Israel Airlines is to introduce an Embraer 195 on routes between Tel Aviv and European destinations, becoming the country's first operator of an E-Jet family aircraft.

The aircraft had originally been bound for Spain's Globalia, which has been trying to establish a regional division.

This division, originally named Universal Airlines, was to use six Embraer 195s.

Globalia has since ordered another six of the type, but Embraer stated that one of the original six had been sold to an undisclosed customer. While still in Universal colours, one of the 195s bore an Israeli registration.

© Embraer

Embraer confirms the Arkia aircraft had been bound for Globalia. Arkia is to operate the Embraer 195 in a 122-seat, single-class configuration.

While the manufacturer's official illustration shows the type in full Arkia livery, the aircraft has been flown in a curious hybrid scheme based on Universal Airlines' colours - with even Arkia's brand carried in Universal's style.

"Introduction of this new aircraft is pivotal to our dynamic ongoing development plan," says Arkia chief Gadi Tepper.

Arkia's network includes links to Paris, Barcelona, Moscow, Kiev and Tbilisi.