Latest news with #ElAlAirlines
Forbes
23-07-2025
- Forbes
How Safe Will You Feel Traveling In Israel?
An Israeli El Al Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft bound for Los Angeles takes off from ... More Israel's central Ben Gurion Airport on June 25, 2025. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) It's no secret that tourism is down in Israel. But it's starting to come back, considering the timeless appeal of the country's religious and historic sites, its warm beaches, acclaimed cuisine and friendly people. During our travels in Israel in April and May, we felt safe. As the late Tom Petty sang, 'Most things I worry 'bout, Never happen anyway.' It would be a shame not to see Israel because of fear. There's Jerusalem where the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Via Dolorosa, the City of David and David's Tower bring tourists face to face with Bible times. There's secular Tel Aviv, with its beaches and Bauhaus architecture, fine dining and brilliant museums. The fortress of Masada where zealots fought the Romans, the Sea of Galilee, and even the final resting place of Princess Alice, grandmother of King Charles, are all worthy of visitation. And there's the Nova Festival memorial site. How safe is travel to Israel? After all, the country is in the midst of what has been described as a 'seven-front war,' which is finally winding down. The number one question we got when we returned from Israel was 'Weren't you afraid?' For my wife and I, the short answer was 'No.' We spent ten days there and felt comfortable. Of course, we do live in Los Angeles, where we were greeted on our return by someone breaking into our car, followed by a week of rioting. Aerial view of the ruins of Massada is a fortress built by Herod the Great on a cliff-top off the ... More coast of the Dead Sea. Destroyed by the Romans in the 1st century AD e. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List In Israel, you'll occasionally see a military jet or hear a helicopter overhead. You'll see a beautiful girl or a paunchy reservist carrying an M-16. It quickly becomes part of the scenery, like people playing matkot (an Israeli paddle ball game) at the beach in Tel Aviv or large religious families navigating the streets of Jerusalem. In the North or South you might see the occasional tank transporter schlepping a Merkava, but in Tel Aviv the streets are packed with tables of outdoor diners. Yes, the tiny country important to three of the world's great religions has been embroiled in a multifront war since October 7, 2023. On that day, several thousand terrorists launched an assault from Gaza that killed, injured or kidnapped more than 1500 people. Yes, the most visited destination in Israel is currently the Nova Music Festival site, where more than 360 young people were murdered on October 7. International and local visitors recognize the importance of this memorial. During our visit, we traveled from the shores of the Mediterranean in Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. We drove to the Nova Festival in the south to the Galilee and the Golan in the North. We felt comfortable and welcome everywhere, whether traveling by car or taking the Jerusalem to Tel Aviv train or buses. We experienced two missile attacks. In Jerusalem, the alarms went off at 6:30AM on Shabbat. We got up and went to the stairwell of the Orient Hotel for a few minutes. When the missile was intercepted by Iron Dome, the alarms stopped. A few days later, we were driving to the North from Jerusalem when a Houthi hypersonic missile evaded Iron Dome. It landed near Ben Gurion Airport, creating a crater in the parking lot. No one was injured, but many foreign carriers canceled or postponed flights. But our El Al flight to Paris two days later was unaffected, departing right on time. People gather by the surf at a beach in Tel Aviv on June 21, 2025. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) El Al, and fellow Israeli airlines Arkia and Israir, have the reputation of flying even when other airlines cancel. El Al is currently the only airline flying nonstop from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv. Delta is set to return to flying to Ben Gurion after August 31, 2025. American Airlines has no plans to resume flights until at least September. That has resulted in high pricing on El Al. For non-stop flights from LAX on August 6, returning on August, I found two El Al economy fares, one $5162, the other $5892. You have a little more choice if you fly from the NY area, where Arkia and United join El Al in flying nonstop to Israel, a ten-and-a-half-hour flight. A non-stop on El Al from JFK to Israel on August 6, returning on August 20, is $4235, while a United roundtrip on the same dates is $3898. If you have more time than money, one-stops are available for much less. For example, JFK to TLV via AUH (Abu Dhabi) roundtrip on Etihad over those dates costs only $1653 but takes 24 hours from JFK to Israel and 32 hours to return. Faced with such costs and wait times, travelers from the U.S. to Israel often choose to connect via Europe. Tourist Israel lists many carriers flying to Israel here. My wife and I flew from LAX to Rome on Norse Atlantic Airlines and returned to LAX from Paris. Both flights were in Norse's Premium Class. We flew into Israel from Athens, and flew out of Israel to Paris, both on El Al flights. The total cost per person was about $2800 round trip, a huge savings in money, if not time, over the $5,000-plus El Al non-stops from LAX. To visit Israel, Americans now need a visa, also called an ETA-IL(Electronic Travel Authorization). It costs about $30 and allows you to visit for up to 90 days. It's a simple and fast process if you are eligible. In our case, my wife got a visa that was sufficient for both of us as we were traveling together. An Airbus A321-251NX from Arkia Israeli Airlines lands at Barcelona airport in Barcelona, Spain, on ... More September 14, 2024. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images) The screening process starts with the visa and continues at the airport. Patience during the airport questioning is key. It's important to remember that those pesky questions are to keep you safe. From the screening to the questioning to the luggage checks to landing far from the terminal at Ben Gurion (a bus takes you there) airlines flying to Israel, particularly El Al, are vigilant. While the seemingly repetitive questioning can be irritating, it's worth contrasting with America's reliance on technology and 'security theater' like randomly searching grandmothers. In Israel, the ever-present security becomes part of the landscape and made us feel safe throughout the country. Israelis are friendly and curious (if sometimes brusque) and Israel's tourism industry is an important one. You will not encounter tourist go home sentiments like Barcelona or Venice, although you may get an incredulous 'You came?' The State Department website considers Israel a Level 3 out of possible 4 levels of travel warning. The advisory says, 'Reconsider travel due to terrorism, and civil unrest. The security situation in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is unpredictable.' For context, State lists 42 countries currently at a Level 3 or Level 4 safety level. This includes 23 countries at Level 3 ("Reconsider Travel") and 19 countries at Level 4 ("Do Not Travel") Some of the Level 3 countries include Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda. Russia, Syria, and Ukraine are Level 4 countries. During our visit, Israeli life seemed normal or even joyous, as on Independence Day. Yet even with the beaches and the cafes filled, the mood ranged from happy to sad. Yellow chairs, yellow ribbons, posters and stickers demanded freedom for the hostages and commemorated the dead. A sticker showed a smiling young paratrooper who had gotten his wings permanently. As I write this, 50 Israelis remained hostages in Gaza after more than 650 days. A young waitress in an upscale restaurant near Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square Fountain told us she lost eight friends at the Nova Music Festival. The fountain itself has become the repository of memory, with mementoes and possessions of the missing and dead neatly arranged around the fountain. People at the site of the Nova music festival, location of an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, one year on ... More near Kibbutz Reim, southern Israel, on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Israel has been in a state of war since Hamas stormed southern Israeli communities and military bases on Oct. 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250. Photographer: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg Nonetheless, the museums, the music, the clubs, the ancient sites, and the people of Israel are all waiting for tourists to return. My son is returning there this fall. We went. We will go again. Hopefully soon, when the hostages are released and the war is over.
The Advertiser
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Israel's El Al cancels flights to and from Europe
Israel's El Al Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow due to Israel's conflict with Iran. The Israeli flag carrier said all flights have been cancelled up to and including Tuesday, with Israel's airspace still closed. "Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said. Israel's National Security Council cautioned against travel to Israel through Egypt and Jordan despite their borders being open. "We would like to emphasise that both Sinai (in Egypt) and Jordan are under Level 4 travel warnings - indicating a high threat level - and we recommend avoiding travel to these areas," the council said. "These warnings are especially relevant during this time of heightened tension. "For Israelis currently abroad and waiting to return to the country, we recommend waiting for updates on the matter from the Ministry of Transportation." El Al shares were down 3.5 per cent in afternoon trade in Tel Aviv. El Al has been one of the only carriers operating into Tel Aviv since October 7, 2023, after many foreign airlines cancelled flights because of the Israel-Gaza conflict. A number of carriers recently resumed flights to Israel before the missile attack exchanges between Israel and Iran at the weekend. Israel's El Al Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow due to Israel's conflict with Iran. The Israeli flag carrier said all flights have been cancelled up to and including Tuesday, with Israel's airspace still closed. "Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said. Israel's National Security Council cautioned against travel to Israel through Egypt and Jordan despite their borders being open. "We would like to emphasise that both Sinai (in Egypt) and Jordan are under Level 4 travel warnings - indicating a high threat level - and we recommend avoiding travel to these areas," the council said. "These warnings are especially relevant during this time of heightened tension. "For Israelis currently abroad and waiting to return to the country, we recommend waiting for updates on the matter from the Ministry of Transportation." El Al shares were down 3.5 per cent in afternoon trade in Tel Aviv. El Al has been one of the only carriers operating into Tel Aviv since October 7, 2023, after many foreign airlines cancelled flights because of the Israel-Gaza conflict. A number of carriers recently resumed flights to Israel before the missile attack exchanges between Israel and Iran at the weekend. Israel's El Al Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow due to Israel's conflict with Iran. The Israeli flag carrier said all flights have been cancelled up to and including Tuesday, with Israel's airspace still closed. "Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said. Israel's National Security Council cautioned against travel to Israel through Egypt and Jordan despite their borders being open. "We would like to emphasise that both Sinai (in Egypt) and Jordan are under Level 4 travel warnings - indicating a high threat level - and we recommend avoiding travel to these areas," the council said. "These warnings are especially relevant during this time of heightened tension. "For Israelis currently abroad and waiting to return to the country, we recommend waiting for updates on the matter from the Ministry of Transportation." El Al shares were down 3.5 per cent in afternoon trade in Tel Aviv. El Al has been one of the only carriers operating into Tel Aviv since October 7, 2023, after many foreign airlines cancelled flights because of the Israel-Gaza conflict. A number of carriers recently resumed flights to Israel before the missile attack exchanges between Israel and Iran at the weekend. Israel's El Al Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow due to Israel's conflict with Iran. The Israeli flag carrier said all flights have been cancelled up to and including Tuesday, with Israel's airspace still closed. "Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said. Israel's National Security Council cautioned against travel to Israel through Egypt and Jordan despite their borders being open. "We would like to emphasise that both Sinai (in Egypt) and Jordan are under Level 4 travel warnings - indicating a high threat level - and we recommend avoiding travel to these areas," the council said. "These warnings are especially relevant during this time of heightened tension. "For Israelis currently abroad and waiting to return to the country, we recommend waiting for updates on the matter from the Ministry of Transportation." El Al shares were down 3.5 per cent in afternoon trade in Tel Aviv. El Al has been one of the only carriers operating into Tel Aviv since October 7, 2023, after many foreign airlines cancelled flights because of the Israel-Gaza conflict. A number of carriers recently resumed flights to Israel before the missile attack exchanges between Israel and Iran at the weekend.
Perth Now
15-06-2025
- Perth Now
Israel's El Al cancels flights to and from Europe
Israel's El Al Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow due to Israel's conflict with Iran. The Israeli flag carrier said all flights have been cancelled up to and including Tuesday, with Israel's airspace still closed. "Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said. Israel's National Security Council cautioned against travel to Israel through Egypt and Jordan despite their borders being open. "We would like to emphasise that both Sinai (in Egypt) and Jordan are under Level 4 travel warnings - indicating a high threat level - and we recommend avoiding travel to these areas," the council said. "These warnings are especially relevant during this time of heightened tension. "For Israelis currently abroad and waiting to return to the country, we recommend waiting for updates on the matter from the Ministry of Transportation." El Al shares were down 3.5 per cent in afternoon trade in Tel Aviv. El Al has been one of the only carriers operating into Tel Aviv since October 7, 2023, after many foreign airlines cancelled flights because of the Israel-Gaza conflict. A number of carriers recently resumed flights to Israel before the missile attack exchanges between Israel and Iran at the weekend.
Reuters
15-06-2025
- Reuters
Israel's El Al cancels flights to and from many cities until June 23
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Reuters) - Israel's El Al Airlines ( opens new tab has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow until June 23 owing to the conflict between Israel and Iran, it said on Sunday. The Israeli flag carrier said that all flights have been cancelled up to and including June 17, with Israel's airspace still closed. "Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said. Israel's National Security Council (NSC) cautioned against travel to Israel through Egypt and Jordan despite their borders being open. "We would like to emphasize that both Sinai (in Egypt) and Jordan are under Level 4 travel warnings – indicating a high threat level – and we recommend avoiding travel to these areas. These warnings are especially relevant during this time of heightened tension," the NSC said. "For Israelis currently abroad and waiting to return to the country, we recommend waiting for updates on the matter from the Ministry of Transportation." El Al shares were down 3.5% in afternoon trade in Tel Aviv. Since October 7, 2023, El Al has been one of the only carriers operating into Tel Aviv after many foreign airlines cancelled flights because of the Israel-Gaza conflict. A number of carriers recently resumed flights to Israel before the missile attack exchanges between Israel and Iran this weekend.
Business Recorder
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Middle East airspace shut, airlines cancel flights
SEOUL/LONDON: Airlines steered clear of much of the Middle East on Friday after Israeli attacks on Iranian sites forced carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights in the latest upheaval to travel in the region. Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, and more of a safety concern. Detours add to airlines' fuel costs and lengthen journey times. Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon. Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was closed and Israel's air defence units stood on high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran. Israel's El Al Airlines said it had suspended flights to and from Israel as did Air France KLM and budget carriers Ryanair and Wizz. Wizz said it had re-routed flights affected by closed airspace in the region for the next 72 hours. Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia were moving planes out of the country. FlightRadar data showed airspace over Iran, Iraq and Jordan was empty, with flights directed towards Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead. About 1,800 flights to and from Europe had been affected so far on Friday, including approximately 650 cancelled flights, according to Eurocontrol. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed due to war, the Middle East region has become an even more important route for international flights between Europe and Asia.
