Arkia Sale to Brooklyn Haredi Investor in Doubt Amid Employee Revolt Over Shabbat Flight Dispute

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A proposed sale of Arkia Israel Airlines to Brooklyn-based Haredi real estate developer Ezra Unger could collapse as employee-shareholders vow to fight any attempt to end the carrier’s Shabbat and holiday flight operations.

Employees, who own a 22.1% stake in Israel’s second-largest airline, warned they are prepared to take labor action if a new owner seeks to halt flights on Shabbat, arguing the move would amount to religious coercion and inflict significant financial damage on the airline.

According to The Times of Israel, union chairman Avi Edri said workers made it “unequivocally clear” during a meeting with Unger that they would not support shutting down Shabbat operations. He said Arkia operates about 2,500 flights annually on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, representing roughly 70 working days each year.

Unger, a 36-year-old Hasidic real estate developer from Brooklyn, is in talks to purchase the controlling stake held by the Nakash family, which owns more than 70% of the airline. However, the owners are reportedly considering two other offers, and no agreement has been reached.

Edri said the workers’ corporation also holds a right of first refusal, allowing it to seek another buyer if negotiations advance. Arkia declined to comment on the reported sale talks.

Arkia serves more than 1.5 million passengers annually, operating domestic flights within Israel as well as routes to Europe, New York, Thailand and Vietnam. Unlike El Al, which has long avoided Shabbat flights, Arkia continues to operate on the Jewish day of rest, making the issue a central point in the negotiations.