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After a temporary suspension due to the regional security situation, Arkia Israeli Airlines
has resumed its longest route — the weekly nonstop service from Tel Aviv to Hanoi. I joined the flight to experience Arkia’s Business Class product aboard the airline’s leased Airbus A330-200, and for an almost 11-hour overnight journey, the experience turned out to be far more impressive than expected.
The Ground Experience at Ben Gurion
The premium experience began well before boarding. Business Class passengers received dedicated check-in counters, priority security handling, and increased baggage allowance, making the airport process noticeably smoother.
Before departure, passengers were invited to the Aspire Lounge in Terminal E. The lounge offered a comfortable pre-flight atmosphere with salads, cheeses, pastries, fresh pizza, soup, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages — a relaxing way to prepare for a long overnight flight to Vietnam.
Priority boarding was also available, allowing Business Class travelers to board ahead of the main cabin.
The Aircraft
The flight was operated by a leased Airbus A330-200 from Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly. While the 18-year-old aircraft may not feature the latest Dreamliner technology, the cabin was clean, well maintained, and comfortable throughout the journey.
Business Class was arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats were wide and converted into fully flat beds — an important feature on such a long overnight route. For flights approaching 11 hours, lie-flat seating makes a meaningful difference in overall comfort and sleep quality.
Service Onboard
One of the biggest surprises of the flight was the level of onboard service. Alongside Hi Fly’s international crew, Arkia also staffed the flight with Hebrew-speaking cabin crew members, including Israeli flight attendants and a purser overseeing the premium cabin service.
The experience felt much closer to a traditional long-haul Business Class product than many travelers may expect from a leisure airline.
The service began with welcome drinks and hot towels, followed by attentive meal and beverage service throughout the flight. Passengers could choose between beef, chicken, or fish for the main course, all served with proper table settings, metal cutlery, and elegant presentation.
For kosher travelers, specially sealed Mehadrin meals from “Hamashbia” were available and thoughtfully presented with double wrapping — a detail many religious passengers will appreciate.
Amenities & Entertainment
Each passenger received a comfort kit packed inside a reusable travel pouch, including:
- Eye mask
- Branded socks
- Hygiene products
- Skincare items
- Face mask
Entertainment was provided through personal tablets distributed onboard, featuring Israeli movies and television content.
One notable absence was onboard Wi-Fi. However, on this particular overnight journey, disconnecting from the internet almost became part of the experience itself.
Sleeping Above the Middle East & Asia
After dinner service, I converted the seat into bed mode, settled in with the pillow and blanket, and quickly fell asleep. The next thing I remember was waking up somewhere near Vietnam as breakfast was being served before arrival into Hanoi.
And honestly, that may be the biggest compliment possible for a long-haul Business Class product: the ability to fully relax, disconnect, and sleep comfortably for most of the flight.
For travelers heading to Vietnam — especially kosher travelers looking for a direct option from Israel — Arkia’s Hanoi Business Class product delivers a surprisingly solid and enjoyable premium experience.
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