EL-AL From Israel, joined Oct 2001, 1132 posts, RR: 5 Posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 8550 times:
Chasing the sun: Arkia B757-300 TLV-ETH
Hey Guys, Here is a short report about a short flight – hop from Ben Gurion to Eilat. At first, I didn't think about making a report (since I made reports in the past both about ETH & IZ) but since both IZ & B753 are pretty rare around here, I decided to write it. Other Eilat reports:
Background:
I work for a news company which naturally works 24/7. Therefore, there is no meaning to weekend, I get my 2 days off usually sometime during the week. Thus, when I got the unusual work arrangement that gave me 3 strait days off work, I decided to use it to hear some jet engines.
Eilat was a natural choice - it's always sunny and warm, it's cheap this time of the year and I like it. Other short hops to Cyprus or Greece didn't fit my schedule. I easily booked 2 nights and roundtrip flights on www.arkia.co.il – I wanted to fly Israir since I didn't fly 6H's new planes yet, but they were 20% more expensive.
Arkia, Israel's second largest airline, is operating 5 ATR72s, 1 E195 & 2 B753s with added winglets. It has orders for 2 787s and 4 A321s.
I father dropped my at TLV's domestic terminal 1:
Security line was a bit long, and it took 10 minutes to pass. At the check in counter, I asked for a window seat to the right, not over the wing. I was asked if 35F is OK, I said it's great and I got my BP. Airside:
FIDS:
We were bussed to the airplane right on time. Boarding:
Flight details:
Flight: IZ845
Airline: Arkia Israeli Airlines
Airplane: Boeing B757-300 4X-BAU (built 2000)
Seat: 35F
Date: February 2nd, 2012.
Route: TLV -> ETH
Runways: 26 -> 03
SDT/SAT: 14:35/14:25
Actual Timing:
Pushback; Taxi: 13:31; 13:33
Wheels off: 13:43
Touchdown: 14:22
Full stop: 14:26
Gate to Gate time: 0:54h (scheduled 0:50)
Tight legroom:
100% load today:
Our twin (4X-BAW) arrived:
German minister of foreign affairs flying back to Germany:
We taxied to runway 26. El Al bone yard:
Airborne:
We made a right U turn toward Jerusalem, with a beautiful view of Tel Aviv area. View back to the airport:
Service was just water; light drinks, coffee or tea was offered for sale for 12 NIS (until a year ago it was free). Cruising:
Descending to Eilat:
Welcome to St. Maarten:
While disembarking, I took some cabin pics for you guys. 265 seats on IZ's 1 class B753; front cabin:
Main cabin:
Back cabin (I took this one after the return leg):
We landed on 03 and back tracked to stand 2. El Al B738 EKA park:
View back to my plane:
Busy baggage claim hall:
Don't ask me why, but it took no less then 20 minutes to get my luggage even thought that this was the distance between the plane and the carousal:
Yet, I had some nice views. Arkia ATR taxing for takeoff:
One of Israir's 2 new ATR 72-500s:
Arkia's E195 from SDV taxing to park:
My ride already boarding passengers back to TLV:
After I got my bag, I walked outside the airport to get lunch – the airport is right at the city center, so no variety problem. External view, with my ride's tail:
Eilat welcomed me “warmly” with +24C and sunny sky – or just another February in Israel:
My hotel (Americana) – pretty good value for money:
DC-3 preserved in ETH:
Arkia E195 & ATR with Israir ATR in the airport, taken from the road on the other side:
My flight back was on the same plane (your worst nightmare, planehunter) but when it was dark, so no reason to cover it too (sat in 12A this time). I’ll just share with you this one:
Airline name branded stuff:
That's it; comments, questions and feedback are always welcome.
okapi From France, joined Jun 2006, 185 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 8516 times:
Hello or Shalom!
Nice to read from a sunny place not so far from freezing cold Europe. This route seems extremely popular. Did all passengers originated from TLV or were there any transit pax? You don't mention any kind of in-flight service. Was it operated as a no-frills or mixed regular and charter? Funny because many airlines still do provide some kind of beverage service on similar duration flights, TK comes to mind as I've experienced it between IST and ESB.
Anyway, thanks for sharing, quite a cool destination for a week-end break.
Widebodyroga From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 492 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 8417 times:
Shalom El Al.
I really enjoyed your photos. Eilat sure looks like an interesting place. It's been in my radar for quite some time. So given how narrow the Israeli airspace is around Eilat, do domestic flights ever have to fly over Egyptian or Jordanian airspace? How does it work? Because of the roughly N-S alignment of the runway I'm guessing that's normally not necessary but I'm asking theoretically. My apologies if you have answered this before.
I love the Arkia livery. It looks great on those 757s. The cabin looks pretty too.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
WideBodyroga
Visit my aviation page: http://widebodyroga.weebly.com/
Quokkas From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 8198 times:
Hi Jonathan,
Ouch, the seat pitch does look tight but I suppose it is adequate for a one hour flight. Shame that they have started charging extra for the coffee but I suppose they have to cover costs some how.
Nice to be able to get away for a couple of days. I have not been to Eilat but was able to "wave" at it from my balcony in Aqaba. The location is quite impressive, surrounded as it is by mountains and the waters gulf. One of these days...
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1207 posts, RR: 29 Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 7706 times:
Hello Jonathan,
Good report on an exotic carrier and route, at least for me that is. Really great you got to score a B753 ride, too bad it was the same plane on the inbound. It looks like Eilat is a popular destination for Israeli's, no? The airport looks very much like a city airport: you see a lot of buildings surounding it.
daviation From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 445 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7258 times:
I always enjoy your reports. I've been to Eilat several times, but always from S'de Dov Airport, not TLV. Truly, one time I was in Eilat in August 2008 and it was the hottest climate I have ever been in.
So that leads to my question: how can a B757-300 take off on Eilat's short runway in such a hot temperature? Because the fuel load is so small for the short trip?
Anyway, I thought I was going to visit Israel again in October, but I am going to Hawaii in August, so it's too much money! I will visit Israel again in 2013. My niece and nephew live in Ramat Gan.
swedenflyer From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 48 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 7010 times:
I've always wanted to visit Israel. ETH looks like a good town to go to.
EL-AL From Israel, joined Oct 2001, 1132 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 6861 times:
Quoting okapi (Reply 1): This route seems extremely popular. Did all passengers originated from TLV or were there any transit pax?
All come from TLV. I think the few passengers fly to ETH from outside Israel do it with El Al, because they can fly on one ticket.
Quoting okapi (Reply 1): You don't mention any kind of in-flight service. Was it operated as a no-frills or mixed regular and charter? Funny because many airlines still do provide some kind of beverage service on similar duration flights, TK comes to mind as I've experienced it between IST and ESB.
Quoting EL-AL (Thread starter): Service was just water; light drinks, coffee or tea was offered for sale for 12 NIS (until a year ago it was free)
Quoting okapi (Reply 1): Anyway, thanks for sharing, quite a cool destination for a week-end break.
My plasure, Eilat is indeed great for weekend break.
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 2): I really enjoyed your photos. Eilat sure looks like an interesting place. It's been in my radar for quite some time.
Thank you.
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 2): So given how narrow the Israeli airspace is around Eilat, do domestic flights ever have to fly over Egyptian or Jordanian airspace? How does it work? Because of the roughly N-S alignment of the runway I'm guessing that's normally not necessary but I'm asking theoretically. My apologies if you have answered this before.
Actually, Eilat isn't the very end of Israel. There is still more 6 km to the south, planes fly over it when descending to Eilat. In addition, there is no problem flying over Egyptian airspace for Israeli planes (there is regular route from Tel Aviv to Cairo since 1979).
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 2): I love the Arkia livery. It looks great on those 757s. The cabin looks pretty too.
They renewed the cabin, when I flew BAU back from Cyprus 2 years ago it looked bad.
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 3): Ouch, the seat pitch does look tight but I suppose it is adequate for a one hour flight
Exactly, but since those jets fly also to BCN and CDG, this may be a problem for people my height.
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 3): Shame that they have started charging extra for the coffee but I suppose they have to cover costs some how.
Still, I wonder how is Israir serving nowadays.
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 3): Nice to be able to get away for a couple of days. I have not been to Eilat but was able to "wave" at it from my balcony in Aqaba. The location is quite impressive, surrounded as it is by mountains and the waters gulf. One of these days...
No douht this part of the world is beautiful.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 4): nice report with good pictures! IZ reports don't show up here very often.
Thx PH, that's why I made it.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 4): Lovely beach area - just too bad traffic is limited.
It has a lot of traffic, but the same planes all the time (IZ B753, E195 & ATR, 6H A320 & ATR & LY B737).
Quoting daviation (Reply 7): I've been to Eilat several times, but always from S'de Dov Airport, not TLV. Truly, one time I was in Eilat in August 2008 and it was the hottest climate I have ever been in.
I don't like Eilat in the summer, it's like putting your head in the oven. only October to May for me.
Quoting daviation (Reply 7): So that leads to my question: how can a B757-300 take off on Eilat's short runway in such a hot temperature? Because the fuel load is so small for the short trip?
I don't really know. Sun D'or used to operate direct flights from Eilat to Moscow (DME) on a B752 with full load.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25106 posts, RR: 60 Reply 12, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 6601 times:
Hey Jonathon ,
Nice report there on warmer climates . Always forget about Eilat when looking for a Winter vacation , maybe next time . Looks like some lovely hotels around the area.
Quoting EL-AL (Thread starter): My flight back was on the same plane (your worst nightmare, planehunter) but when it was dark, so no reason to cover it too (sat in 12A this time). I’ll just share with you this one:
Hard shot to get in fairness , Like the one I took out of MIA on AA . Its hit and miss sometimes. Frustrating when the camera wont play ball.
Thanks for a nice read.
Regards
OA260
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
EL-AL From Israel, joined Oct 2001, 1132 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 6442 times:
Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 11): Thanks for writing us about your short trip. What airport code is BGN?
Hey Alex, BGN is for Ben Gurion and SDV for Sde Dov. No TLV code in use since both airport serve Tel Aviv.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): Hard shot to get in fairness , Like the one I took out of MIA on AA . Its hit and miss sometimes. Frustrating when the camera wont play ball
Yea, at night I usually don't even try.
"In our country, those who do not believe in miracles are irrational" - David Ben Gurion.
daviation From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 445 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 6332 times:
Quoting EL-AL (Reply 13): No TLV code in use since both airport serve Tel Aviv.
Is that true? All of my baggage tags to Ben-Gurion says "TLV," while the tag for Sde Dov says "SDV." Maybe BGN is for internal Israel service while TLV is for international service? I don't know the answer.
I don't like Eilat in the summer, it's like putting your head in the oven.
That made me laugh out loud! It's true, it felt like being in the oven. Even the strong breeze made me think perhaps I'm in a modern convection oven!
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2953 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 16 hours ago) and read 6160 times:
Hi El-Al,
thanks for taking the time to report. Interesting to read, I take it TLV-ETH is the only domestic flight in Israel? It is a small country Did you notice many foreigners on your flights? I visited Eilat in 2005, only overnight but it felt like a nice town, worth another visit one day.
EL-AL From Israel, joined Oct 2001, 1132 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 6021 times:
Quoting daviation (Reply 14): Is that true? All of my baggage tags to Ben-Gurion says "TLV," while the tag for Sde Dov says "SDV." Maybe BGN is for internal Israel service while TLV is for international service? I don't know the answer
Yes, BGN code is used only inside Israel, since both SDV and ETH do not handle int'l traffic (there for all int'l flights to Israel go to "TLV").
Quoting signol (Reply 15): thanks for taking the time to report
My plasure.
Quoting signol (Reply 15): I take it TLV-ETH is the only domestic flight in Israel? It is a small country
There is this TLV-ETH route, so as SDV-ETH flights (Tel Aviv's secondary airport), HFA-ETH route, SDV-EIY flights (to Ein Yahav in southeast israel) and SDV-RPN flights to the north, covered in this report:
Quoting signol (Reply 15): Did you notice many foreigners on your flights? I visited Eilat in 2005, only overnight but it felt like a nice town, worth another visit one day.
As i mentioned, I guess most foreigners fly with El Al (because they can fly from anywhere to Eilat in one ticket with free stopover in TLV). I did not see any non-israelis on my flights.
"In our country, those who do not believe in miracles are irrational" - David Ben Gurion.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (1 year 4 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5695 times:
Nice short hop down to the sun! Nice that you can easily get a cheap flight on the B753
Quoting EL-AL (Thread starter): German minister of foreign affairs flying back to Germany:
I saw that same place last week in NBO
Quoting EL-AL (Thread starter): Don't ask me why, but it took no less then 20 minutes to get my luggage even thought that this was the distance between the plane and the carousal:
Distancr has no correlation to delivery time! In ZNZ last week it took a good 20 mins for the priority bags to arrive despite the plane being "right there"!
Do you know since when Arkia is allowed to send its E195 to SDV?
And when Arkia will finally paint its E195 in the regular livery?
When will they receive their A321s?
Thanks EL-AL.
I am not surprised that Israir is not allowed to bring its A320 to SDV.
אמא, אני מתגעגע לך
25 boeingforever: i loved reading this report. i forwarded it to all of Arkia senior management, and ownership!
26 717Flyer: Hello El-Al, Thank you for this most interesting read (and sorry for my late reply)! Seeing a couple of really gorgeous shots of Eilat really makes me
27 EL-AL: You welcome All 3 major israeli airlines - El Al, Arkia & Israir. The package deal (flights+hotel) was 958 shekel. It's a domestic terminal, did
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