Jewish Agency adds air carrier for immigrant flights

November 30, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- El Al is no longer the Jewish Agency's exclusive carrier to fly new immigrants to Israel.

The agency signed a deal Sunday with Israel's Arkia airlines to bring immigrants on its newly opened Ukraine-Israel line. Arkia does not fly to the United States.

Ha'aretz reported that the agency's $2.5 billion contract with El Al expired earlier in November.

The agency also is looking to contract with other airlines, including U.S. Airways, according to the newspaper.

El Al told Ha'aretz that the agency had a "weak payment ethic."

The agency said it started looking to contract with other airlines after El Al would not agree to any special concessions for the new olim, including extra pieces of luggage.

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Jewish Agency adds air carrier for immigrant flights

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