Arkia's petition follows the petition filed earlier by Israir Airlines and claims that the Minister of Transport decision is illegal and would have distorting results
 
Arkia Airlines Ltd. petitioned the High Court of Justice last week against Minister of Transport Israel Katz, the Israel Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and Antitrust Authority director general Ronit Kan to overturn Katz's earlier decision to grant El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. the right to fly between Ben Gurion Airport and Eilat.
 
Katz said following the publication of his controversial decision that the move should bring down fares to Eilat, and will increase demand for the route. Currently, a million passengers fly annually to and from Eilat on some 20 flights a day.
 
Arkia's petition follows the petition filed earlier by Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. Israir argues that Katz hadn't thought things through properly, and therefore his decision is invalid. Arkia claims that Katz's decision is utterly illegal and would have distorting results because El Al, as a monopoly, would be able to ultimately dominate the Eilat route. Arkia argues that if El Al is allowed to fly to Eilat, Arkia should be allowed access to foreign destinations that are currently El Al's, based on Israel's official aviation policy.
 
Arkia says that an El Al executive recently threatened Arkia executives that if Arkia did not stop flying to Paris, El Al would hit Arkia's "soft belly", meaning the Eilat route. Eilat, with a population nearing 50,000, is a burgeoning sea-port city and prime tourism destination for Europeans.