El Al facts for kids
An EL AL Boeing 787-9
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| Founded | 1948 |
|---|---|
| Hubs | Ben Gurion Airport |
| Frequent-flyer program | Matmid Guest |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 47 |
| Destinations | 49 |
| Headquarters | Ben Gurion Airport, Israel |
| Key people | |
| Employees | 3,027 full-time, 1,583 part-time |
EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd. is Israel's national airline, often called its "flag carrier." This means it's the main airline representing the country. Its name, EL AL, means "Upwards" or "To the Skies" in Hebrew.
Since its first flight in September 1948, EL AL has grown a lot. It now flies to nearly 50 places around the world. Its main base is Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.
EL AL is known for its very strong security. It's the only airline that puts special defense systems on its planes to protect them from missiles. This makes it one of the safest airlines in the world. Even though there have been attempts to attack its planes, only one hijacking has ever been successful, and no one was hurt.
As Israel's national airline, EL AL has helped in important rescue missions. For example, in 1991, during Operation Solomon, an EL AL Boeing 747 set a world record by carrying 1,088 passengers on one flight. This was part of a mission to bring 14,500 Jewish refugees from Ethiopia to Israel.
EL AL serves only kosher meals on its flights. Also, it usually does not fly on the Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath) or on religious holidays.
In 2012, EL AL had a fleet of 42 Boeing planes and flew over 4 million passengers. By 2023, the company had 47 planes and made a profit of $263.7 million.
History of EL AL
Starting the Airline (1948–1949)
EL AL began in September 1948. Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann, needed to fly home from a conference in Switzerland. Because of a ban on Israel at the time, a regular flight wasn't possible. So, a military transport plane was quickly changed into a passenger plane for him. It was painted with the "EL AL" logo and flew Weizmann home.
The airline officially became Israel's national airline on November 15, 1948. At first, it rented planes. But in February 1949, it bought two planes from American Airlines. The first EL AL plane arrived at Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion Airport) on April 3, 1949.
EL AL's first international flight was from Tel Aviv to Paris in July 1949. Soon after, it added flights to London and Johannesburg. From the very beginning, EL AL agreed to serve only kosher food and not to fly on the Jewish Sabbath. The name "EL AL" comes from a verse in the Bible.
Growing and Adding Cargo (1950s)
In 1950, EL AL started regular flights to London. It also began its cargo service, using military planes to carry goods. Soon, EL AL started scheduled flights to the United States.
The airline expanded its flights in Europe, adding cities like Vienna, Istanbul, Athens, and Nicosia. By July 1950, EL AL celebrated its first year of regular flights.
EL AL also helped with secret missions. In the early 1950s, it flew over 160,000 Jewish immigrants to Israel from countries like Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. In 1960, EL AL flew Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann from Argentina to Israel after he was captured.
In 1955, EL AL bought two Bristol Britannia planes. In 1958, EL AL advertised its new non-stop flights across the Atlantic Ocean. This helped triple its sales within a year.
Becoming Profitable (1960s)
EL AL started making a profit in 1960. That year, more than half of all passengers flying into Israel came on EL AL. On June 15, 1961, an EL AL Boeing 707 flew non-stop from New York to Tel Aviv. This was a world record for the longest non-stop commercial flight at the time, covering about 9,278 kilometers (5,760 miles) in 9 hours and 33 minutes.
EL AL continued to do well in the late 1960s. It started regular flights to Bucharest and expanded its cargo flights. The airline also created a company for catering (making food for flights). All these efforts helped EL AL make a profit of $2 million that year.
Security Challenges
In 1968, EL AL faced its first major security challenge. On July 23, a Boeing 707 flight from Rome to Tel Aviv was hijacked by three members of a group called the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The plane was forced to land in Algiers. After 40 days of talks, everyone on board was freed safely. This was the only successful hijacking of an EL AL plane.
Later that year, on December 26, two PFLP members attacked an EL AL plane at Athens International Airport, killing an Israeli mechanic. This led to a response from the Israeli Defense Forces.
In 1969, another attack happened at Zurich Airport, where a co-pilot was killed. There were also bomb and grenade attacks at EL AL offices in other European cities. These attacks led to EL AL developing its very strict security measures.
Modernizing the Fleet (1970s)
EL AL bought its first Boeing 747 jet in 1971. This was a big step, and it helped EL AL's operations grow. Another Boeing 747 arrived in 1973, which allowed EL AL to start non-stop flights from Tel Aviv to New York.
In the mid-1970s, EL AL faced disagreements about flying on the Jewish Sabbath. The government eventually voted to ban Sabbath flights again in 1982.
In 1977, EL AL started a charter flight company called El Al Charter Services Ltd., which later became Sun D'Or International Airlines Ltd. Towards the end of the 1970s, EL AL also helped fly Jewish people from Iran to Israel as the situation there became difficult.
Overcoming Challenges (1980s)
In April 1980, EL AL started flights to Cairo after a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. In late 1982, EL AL stopped operations for a while because of worker disagreements. The government stepped in to help the company.
Operations started again in January 1983. EL AL bought new Boeing 737 and Boeing 767 planes. Within four years, EL AL was making a profit again. In May 1988, it set another record with a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv, a journey of about 12,964 kilometers (7,000 nautical miles) in 13 hours and 41 minutes.
Flights to Poland and Yugoslavia began in 1989.
Major Airlifts and Changes (1990s)
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In 1990, EL AL started regular flights to Moscow after the Soviet Union broke apart. In 1991, EL AL began charter flights to bring Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Working with another airline, EL AL flew over 400,000 Jewish immigrants to Israel in three years.
On May 24, 1991, an EL AL Boeing 747 cargo plane made history during Operation Solomon. It flew a record-breaking 1,088 Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa to Israel. Two babies were even born during the flight! In less than 36 hours, 14,500 Ethiopian Jews were flown to Israel.
In 1994, EL AL received its first Boeing 747-400. In 1995, EL AL signed its first agreement to share flights with American Airlines. The airline also started flights to the Far East.
In 1996, EL AL faced losses due to new security concerns and government policies. To keep planes flying, EL AL offered special "flights to nowhere" where passengers enjoyed entertainment while flying over the Mediterranean Sea. In 1997, EL AL opened a separate cargo division.
Into the 21st Century
EL AL's first Boeing 777 flew in March 2000. Later that year, the debate about Sabbath flights came up again.
The company began to be privately owned in June 2003. By January 2005, a company called Knafaim-Arkia Holdings Ltd. owned most of EL AL.
In August 2010, EL AL and JetBlue made an agreement to offer connecting flights between Israel and 61 cities in the United States.
In 2015, EL AL changed a rule that required female flight attendants to wear high heels until passengers were seated, after the workers' union said it was unsafe.
In August 2017, EL AL started flying its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes. These planes have upgraded seats, personal entertainment screens, and Wi-Fi. They also introduced a new Premium Economy class and an improved Business Class with lie-flat seats.
In July 2019, EL AL stopped its dedicated cargo flights, retiring its last Boeing 747-400F cargo plane.
In March 2020, EL AL stopped most flights because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It converted some of its Dreamliner planes to carry medical supplies from China to Europe. EL AL also flew special flights to bring Israeli citizens home. These included the first-ever non-stop flights from Israel to Australia.
In July 2020, EL AL stopped all flights for a short time. The company then worked out a deal with the government to get financial help. In September 2020, a new owner, Eli Rozenberg, bought a large part of the airline. The new management planned to focus on being on time and improving food services.
In April 2022, EL AL started its first direct flight between Tel Aviv and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
In October 2023, due to the start of the Gaza war, EL AL received special permission to fly on the Sabbath. This was a rare event, as the airline had not flown on the Sabbath since 1982.
In 2024, EL AL made a record profit of $545 million. This happened because many other airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv due to the war, and EL AL continued to fly.
How EL AL Operates
Headquarters and Offices
EL AL's main office is located at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. In 2022, EL AL announced it would move its U.S. headquarters from New York to Miami. EL AL has offices in 46 countries around the world.
Passenger Numbers and Security Costs
In 2005, EL AL flew 3.5 million passengers. About 60% of its passengers are Israeli. EL AL spends a lot of money each year on security measures, which are required by Israel's security service.
In 2007, EL AL invested in two new Boeing 777-200 planes. These planes have updated seats with adjustable headrests and legrests, and each seat has a touch-screen entertainment system. Most of EL AL's planes are named after Israeli cities.
EL AL also has a cargo branch called El Al Cargo. It operates flights between Tel Aviv, Liège, and New York, and also does special cargo flights around the world.
As of December 2022, EL AL has 4,610 employees and a fleet of 47 aircraft. In 2023, the company's revenue was $2.503 billion, with a profit of $263.7 million.
EL AL's flight safety videos have Hebrew voiceovers and Arabic subtitles, followed by an English version. In 2017, the safety video featured mentalist Lior Suchard.
EL AL usually follows Jewish traditions by not flying on the Sabbath. However, there have been rare exceptions, such as during the 1982 Lebanon War and the Gaza war, when flights operated on the Sabbath due to special situations.
EL AL Companies
Borenstein Caterers
This company, owned by EL AL, makes and supplies kosher meals to airlines and other places in the U.S., operating at New York's JFK airport.
Sun d'Or
Sun d'Or handles EL AL's charter flights. It works with travel companies and sells charter and scheduled flights. Since 2011, Sun d'Or uses planes and crew from its parent company, EL AL, instead of owning its own.
Superstar Holidays
Superstar, also owned by EL AL, is a travel company that sells vacation packages and discounted airline tickets.
Tamam
Tamam, another EL AL company, focuses on making and supplying kosher meals for airlines.
Former Companies
Up
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EL AL used to have a low-cost airline called "Up." It started in March 2014 and flew to cities like Berlin and Prague using Boeing 737-800 planes. All Up flights were operated by EL AL. For longer flights, passengers could buy food and drinks. Up stopped flying on October 14, 2018, and its routes and planes became part of EL AL's main operations again.
Security Measures
EL AL has very strict security rules, both on the ground and on its planes. These rules were put in place after the 1968 hijacking. In 2008, Global Traveler magazine called EL AL the world's most secure airline.
Onboard Missile Defense
Since the early 2000s, some EL AL planes have special systems to protect them from missiles. The first system was called Flight Guard. In 2014, EL AL started adding an updated system called C-MUSIC. This system uses cameras and lasers to detect and block missile attacks.
Airport Security
EL AL uses several layers of security at airports:
- Early Checks: Before passengers even arrive at the airport, EL AL staff check passenger lists.
- Airport Control: At Ben Gurion Airport, both plainclothes and uniformed agents look for anything suspicious. Armed security also patrols EL AL areas in other countries.
- Passenger Screening: Inside the airport, trained staff check passengers and their bags. All passengers are interviewed individually before boarding. They are asked about their trip, their job, and if they packed their own bags.
- Baggage Checks: Luggage is screened and sometimes searched by hand. Bags are also put into a special chamber that simulates flight pressures to make sure no explosives would be triggered. EL AL security agents personally check all luggage, even at airports outside Israel.
Flight Security
- Sky Marshals: Undercover security agents, sometimes called sky marshals, carry hidden firearms and sit among passengers on every international EL AL flight.
- Pilots: Most EL AL pilots used to be pilots in the Israeli Air Force.
- Cockpit Doors: All EL AL planes have double cockpit doors to prevent unauthorized entry. A code is needed to open the first door, and the second door only opens after the first is closed and the pilot or co-pilot identifies the person.
- Reinforced Floors: There are strong steel floors between the passenger cabin and the baggage area.
In April 2013, the Israeli government increased its payments to EL AL to cover most of the airline's security costs.
Where EL AL Flies
EL AL flies to cities on four continents in 31 countries. It has a large network in Europe and flies to major cities in North America like New York, Newark, Miami, Los Angeles, and Boston. It also flies to cities in Asia such as Bangkok, Mumbai, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
For a long time, EL AL could not fly over Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. This made flights to Asia longer and more expensive. However, in September 2020, Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to Israeli planes, which helps EL AL have shorter and cheaper flights to Asia. EL AL also flies to Johannesburg in South Africa and Zanzibar.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, EL AL planned to have direct flights between Tel Aviv and Melbourne, Australia. This would have been the longest direct flight for the airline.
In June 2022, EL AL announced it would stop flights from Toronto–Pearson in October 2022, ending over 40 years of service to Canada. It also canceled routes to Brussels Airport and Warsaw Chopin Airport.
In December 2022, EL AL started selling tickets for its new route to Tokyo-Narita Airport, which began on March 2, 2023. This route was delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic.
On March 14, 2023, EL AL and the government of Victoria, Australia, signed an agreement. EL AL plans to start direct flights to Melbourne Airport by June 2024. These flights will use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and are expected to add 44,000 seats to Melbourne each year. The flights will take about 15 hours going east and 17 hours going west.
In October 2023, EL AL canceled some seasonal routes and delayed new ones due to the Gaza war. It planned to restart seasonal routes in April 2024. One of EL AL's oldest routes, flights to Johannesburg, South Africa, ended in March 2024.
Airlines EL AL Works With
EL AL shares flights with many other airlines. This means you can book a ticket with EL AL, but part of your journey might be on a plane from one of these partner airlines:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeroméxico
- Air China
- Air France
- Air Serbia
- Azerbaijan Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- Gulf Air
- Hong Kong Airlines
- Iberia
- JetBlue
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- LATAM Brasil
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Porter Airlines
- Qantas
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
EL AL's Planes
Current Fleet
As of May 2025, EL AL uses only Boeing aircraft. Here are the types of planes it flies:
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | J | W | Y | Total | ||||
| Boeing 737-800 | 14 | — | — | 16 | — | 150 | 166 | These planes will be replaced by Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes. |
| 6 | — | 189 | 189 | These are used by Sun d'Or. | ||||
| Boeing 737-900ER | 8 | — | — | 16 | — | 159 | 175 | |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | — | 20 | TBA | Deliveries start in 2028. They will replace the older Boeing 737-800s. | ||||
| Boeing 777-200ER | 3 | — | — | 28 | 32 | 253 | 313 | These planes are being updated with new seats. |
| 2 | 6 | 35 | — | 238 | 279 | These planes have their original seats. First class is no longer offered; those seats are now used for Business class. | ||
| Boeing 787-8 | 4 | — | — | 20 | 35 | 183 | 238 | |
| Boeing 787-9 | 12 | 3 | — | 32 | 35 | 204 | 271 | |
| 1 | 30 | — | 263 | 293 | This plane was originally ordered by another airline. | |||
| EL AL Cargo fleet | ||||||||
| Boeing 737-800BCF | 1 | — | Cargo | This plane is used only for cargo. | ||||
| Total | 51 | 23 | ||||||
Former Planes
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EL AL used to fly these types of planes:
- Boeing 707
- Boeing 720
- Boeing 737-200
- Boeing 737-700
- Boeing 747-100
- Boeing 747-200
- Boeing 747-300
- Boeing 747-400
- Boeing 747-400F
- Boeing 757-200
- Boeing 767-200ER
- Boeing 767-300ER
- Bristol Britannia
- Curtiss C-46 Commando
- Douglas DC-4
- Lockheed Constellation
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11
Plane Colors and Design
EL AL's older planes had a turquoise/navy blue stripe along the side and a turquoise tail with the flag of Israel at the top. The EL AL logo was near the front windows.
The newer design has a blue stripe with a silver border that sweeps across the plane and onto the tail. The EL AL logo is part of this design. Most EL AL planes are named after Israeli cities like Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. The name of the city is usually near the front of the plane. One special Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is painted in the old EL AL colors from the 1960s and 1970s to celebrate the airline's 70th anniversary.
EL AL's cargo planes used to have a simpler design, often just white with the word "Cargo" on them.
Services for Passengers
Frequent Flyer Program
Matmid is EL AL's program for frequent flyers. Members earn points when they fly with EL AL or its partner airlines, stay at partner hotels, or use certain credit cards. These points can be used for free tickets, flight upgrades, or discounts on car rentals and hotels. There are five levels in the Matmid program: Matmid, Matmid Silver, Matmid Gold, Matmid Platinum, and Matmid TOP Platinum.
King David Lounge
The King David Lounge is a special airport lounge for EL AL's premium passengers. There are six King David Lounges around the world, including at Ben Gurion International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and London Heathrow Airport. These lounges offer drinks, snacks, newspapers, magazines, and often free Wi-Fi. The lounge at Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion airport also has showers and a spa.
Cabin Classes
EL AL offers different types of seating on its planes:
- Business class: Available on all planes.
- On the 787 and newer 777 planes, Business class seats are arranged 1-2-1 and can lie completely flat, like a bed.
- On older 777 planes, Business class seats are arranged 2-3-2 and recline almost flat. Some of these planes also have seats that used to be for First class, which are now used for Business class.
- On the 737 planes, Business class seats are arranged 2-2 and are larger recliner seats, not just economy seats with a blocked middle seat.
- Premium economy class: Available on the 787 and newer 777 planes. These seats offer more legroom and are wider than economy seats.
- Economy class: Available on all planes. These are standard seats.
In-flight Entertainment and Wi-Fi
On Boeing 777-200ERs and Boeing 787s, passengers have personal screens with movies and TV shows. These planes also have Wi-Fi for internet access, but it's only available on flights to Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
On Boeing 737s, there are no personal screens, but passengers can stream entertainment to their own devices using the plane's Wi-Fi network (without internet access).
Incidents and Accidents
EL AL has been involved in some incidents and accidents throughout its history. Most of these were related to political violence, especially between 1968 and 1990. Despite these challenges, EL AL has not lost a passenger on any passenger flight since 1955.
Security-Related Incidents
- On July 23, 1968, EL AL Flight 426 was hijacked by three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) after taking off from Rome. The plane was forced to land in Algiers. The hijacking ended after 40 days, and everyone was released safely. This was the only successful hijacking of an EL AL plane.
- On February 18, 1969, EL AL Flight 432 was attacked at Zurich Airport while getting ready for takeoff. Seven people were hurt, and the co-pilot later died. One attacker was killed, and others were arrested.
- On September 6, 1970, there was an attempted hijacking of El Al Flight 219 from Tel Aviv to New York. The pilots and security staff on board stopped the hijackers.
- On August 16, 1972, a bomb exploded in the luggage area of EL AL Flight 444 after it took off from Rome. The plane returned safely, and no one was hurt.
- On December 27, 1985, attackers targeted EL AL and TWA ticket counters at airports in Rome and Vienna, killing 18 people.
- On April 18, 1986, a bomb attack was stopped at London's Heathrow airport. A woman was about to board an EL AL flight with explosives hidden in her bag by her fiancé.
- On July 4, 2002, a man shot six Israeli passengers at EL AL's ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport. Two people died. The FBI called this a terrorist act.
- On November 17, 2002, there was an attempted hijacking on EL AL Flight 581 from Tel Aviv to Istanbul. A passenger tried to break into the cockpit but was stopped by security.
Other Accidents
- On November 24, 1951, an EL AL cargo plane crashed while landing in Zurich, killing all 6 crew members.
- On July 27, 1955, El Al Flight 402 was shot down by two Bulgarian fighter jets over Bulgaria after it flew into their airspace by mistake during bad weather. All 58 people on board died.
- On October 4, 1992, El Al Flight 1862, a cargo plane, crashed into two apartment buildings in Amsterdam shortly after takeoff. The crash happened because an engine broke off, causing the plane to lose control. The three crew members, one passenger, and 39 people on the ground were killed.
Notable People at EL AL
Leaders
- Ephraim Ben-Artzi – EL AL CEO from 1956–1967.
- Mordechai Hod – Former commander of the Israeli Air Force, EL AL CEO from 1977–1979.
- Eliezer Shkedi – Former commander of the Israeli Air Force, EL AL CEO from 2010–2014.
Pilots
- Pinchas Ben-Porat – One of Israel's first pilots.
- Giora Epstein – Famous Israeli Air Force pilot.
- Yoav Kish – A politician.
- Abie Nathan – A humanitarian and peace activist.
Flight Attendants
- Gali Atari – A singer and actress.
- Janna Gur – A food writer.
- Miki Haimovich – A television presenter.
- Adir Miller – An actor and comedian.
- Sara Netanyahu – Wife of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Alma Zack – An actress.
Images for kids
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1951 British mechanic's residence permit for Israel – EL AL worker
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A 1951 EL AL pilot's early Israeli passport
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EL AL's safety video features mentalist Lior Suchard.
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Flag of EL AL
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EL AL Logo from the 1960s
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A small aircraft painted in EL AL colors at Schneider Children's Medical Center.
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Monument for the Bijlmer disaster in Amsterdam.
See also
In Spanish: El Al para niños
