Arkefly to expand low-cost long-haul network to US West Coast

Dutch carrier Arkefly is expanding its network to the US west coast with three new seasonal destinations, signalling the potential it sees in the relatively undeveloped low-cost long-haul trans-Atlantic market. Until now Arkefly's US network was limited to the east coast. The airline is also planning expansion to Southeast Asia which could fill some of the void left by AirAsia X in the Europe-Asia low-cost long-haul market.

Arkefly is a low-cost carrier based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and is owned by Germany's TUI Group, which has a portfolio of airlines following primarily leisure carrier or hybrid leisure/LCC models. Arkefly operates a mix of scheduled and charter services with both narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Its charters are primarily for Dutch tour operator and sister company Arke, which is also owned by TUI. Other TUI Group carriers include TUIfly (Germany and Austria), TUIfly Nordic (Sweden), Thomson Airways (UK), Corsairfly (France) and Jetairfly (Belgium).