El Al Israel Airlines has made this announcement:
| Origin – Destination | โDate | โRemarks |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Path: Tel Aviv-Paris-London-Tel Aviv | May 24 /ย May 27,ย 2020 | You can purchase One Way ticket to any of the destinations. |
| Tel Aviv – Hong Kong | โMay 25, 2020 | One Way |
| โTel Aviv – Bangkok – Tel Aviv | โJune 6, 2020 – June 8, 2020 | โOne Way /ย Roundtrip |
Flights will be operated by the airline’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and offer 3 classes of service*: Economy, Premium, and Business.
It is recommendedย to contact the embassy of the relevant country before the flight in order to make sure the entry is possible.
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Following a further assessment, El Al has decided to extend the suspension of its flights until June 20,ย 2020ย (Sun d’Or flightsย – until June 27, 2020).
The Company will continue to operate rescue flights and will continue to operate cargo flights. In addition, EL AL will operate essential flights as required.
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El Al is offering a new nonstop flight to Israel on a new Dreamliner from Boston to Israel next week on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Seating distance will be observed for safety. Tickets for flight LY016 are now available for purchase. The scheduled departure time from Boston is 6:10 pm with an 11:30 am arrival into Ben-Gurion International Airport the next day.
On the financial side, El Al issued this report:
In 2019, El Al was in the midst of a major upheaval in its aircraft fleet: The Company completed the removal of old fleets, received 14 Dreamliner aircraft and completed the interior improvement of its narrow-body aircraft fleet.
The global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which, since the beginning of 2020, has had a material adverse impact on the global economy in general and the aviation industry in particular, abruptly stopped the momentum of activities of the Company, which was among the first to be hit by the crisis.
The pandemic led to a sharp decline in demand for passenger flights and resulted in a significant number of flight cancellations in February and March 2020 up to a complete cessation of passenger flights, in view of the government guidance on self-isolation, that caused the loss of substantially all of the Company’s revenues and created a liquidity problem for the Company.
The economic crisis was accompanied by a sharp decline in demand for oil that led to a drop in the fuel price and interest rates worldwide. Having performed jet fuel and interest hedging transactions, the drop generated losses to the Company, which was required to provide deposits in significant amounts to be used as collateral, thus aggravating the damage to its cash flow.
Due to the flight cancellations, the Company is required to make refunds to customers on a material scale.
To allow the Company to cope with the implications of the coronavirus crisis and immediately reduce the cash expenditure, the Company is currently implementing a series of streamlining measures:
The Company is conducting negotiations with lenders and with the Ministry of Finance to obtain a loan of USD $400 million, most of which will be backed by a state guarantee.
Given the uncertainty over the completion of said assistance, which is essential to allow the Company to address the consequences of the crisis at this stage, the Company estimates that there are significant doubts about its continued existence as a going concern.
El Al’s CEO, Gonen Usishkin:
“El Al is one of the Israeli economy’s most significant corporate casualties from the coronavirus crisis, and for this reason we asked the Israeli government to assist El Al as most countries in the world have done.ย In the last two months the Company’s management team has been working around the clock to implement a series of operational and financial measures aimed to reduce the Company’s expenses, maintain its liquidity and allow it to operate. The Company had to halt its main operations, i.e. passenger carriage, in view of the government guidance, and it uses the wide-body passenger aircraft along with the cargo aircraft for extensive cargo operations. We established a streamlining program to allow the Company to operate in the coming years and return to profitability; however, these measures will not be sufficient without the Israeli government support.”
El Al’s CFO, Dganit Palti:
“We completed 2019 with an increase in revenue and gross profit. The Company reported a loss of approximately USD $60 million, which was also affected by the initial implementation of a new accounting standard. However, notwithstanding the loss, the Company generated unprecedented cash flow from operating activities totaling USD $294 million and completed the year with high cash balances of USD $264 million in its account. In view of the impact of the global crisis that paralyzed the aviation industry, El Al’s passenger operations have stopped, and it found itself in a serious cash flow crisis. The Company took many steps to improve its liquidity, mainly by sharply reducing its expenses and suspending investments. Concurrently therewith, we carried out financial transactions to improve the Company’s liquidity, inter alia, sale and lease back of three aircraft. We established a business plan containing profound streamlining measures that are currently in the process of implementation, and we expect the state’s decision to provide a guarantee for a USD $400 million bank loan, that will allow the Company to return to growth and profitability.”
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
El Al Israel Airlines has issued this financial statement:
In 2019, El Al was in the midst of a major upheaval in its aircraft fleet: The Company completed the removal of old fleets, received 14 Dreamliner aircraft and completed the interior improvement of its narrow-body aircraft fleet.
The global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which, since the beginning of 2020, has had a material adverse impact on the global economy in general and the aviation industry in particular, abruptly stopped the momentum of activities of the Company, which was among the first to be hit by the crisis.
The pandemic led to a sharp decline in demand for passenger flights and resulted in a significant number of flight cancellations in February and March 2020 up to a complete cessation of passenger flights, in view of the government guidance on self-isolation, that caused the loss of substantially all of the Company’s revenues and created a liquidity problem for the Company.
The economic crisis was accompanied by a sharp decline in demand for oil that led to a drop in the fuel price and interest rates worldwide. Having performed jet fuel and interest hedging transactions, the drop generated losses to the Company, which was required to provide deposits in significant amounts to be used as collateral, thus aggravating the damage to its cash flow.
Due to the flight cancellations, the Company is required to make refunds to customers on a material scale.
To allow the Company to cope with the implications of the coronavirus crisis and immediately reduce the cash expenditure, the Company is currently implementing a series of streamlining measures:
The Company is conducting negotiations with lenders and with the Ministry of Finance to obtain a loan of USD $400 million, most of which will be backed by a state guarantee.
Given the uncertainty over the completion of said assistance, which is essential to allow the Company to address the consequences of the crisis at this stage, the Company estimates that there are significant doubts about its continued existence as a going concern.
El Al’s CEO, Gonen Usishkin:
“El Al is one of the Israeli economy’s most significant corporate casualties from the coronavirus crisis, and for this reason we asked the Israeli government to assist El Al as most countries in the world have done.ย In the last two months the Company’s management team has been working around the clock to implement a series of operational and financial measures aimed to reduce the Company’s expenses, maintain its liquidity and allow it to operate. The Company had to halt its main operations, i.e. passenger carriage, in view of the government guidance, and it uses the wide-body passenger aircraft along with the cargo aircraft for extensive cargo operations. We established a streamlining program to allow the Company to operate in the coming years and return to profitability; however, these measures will not be sufficient without the Israeli government support.”
El Al’s CFO, Dganit Palti:
“We completed 2019 with an increase in revenue and gross profit. The Company reported a loss of approximately USD $60 million, which was also affected by the initial implementation of a new accounting standard. However, notwithstanding the loss, the Company generated unprecedented cash flow from operating activities totaling USD $294 million and completed the year with high cash balances of USD $264 million in its account. In view of the impact of the global crisis that paralyzed the aviation industry, El Al’s passenger operations have stopped, and it found itself in a serious cash flow crisis. The Company took many steps to improve its liquidity, mainly by sharply reducing its expenses and suspending investments. Concurrently therewith, we carried out financial transactions to improve the Company’s liquidity, inter alia, sale and lease back of three aircraft. We established a business plan containing profound streamlining measures that are currently in the process of implementation, and we expect the state’s decision to provide a guarantee for a USD 400 million bank loan, that will allow the Company to return to growth and profitability.”
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
El Al Israel Airlines has made this announcement:
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Following a further assessment, EL AL has decided to extend the suspension of its flights until 2 May 2020.
From 3 May 2020 until 30 May 2020, EL AL is planning to operate flights to/from New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Johannesburg, London, and Paris. The schedule will be updated on the systems and are subject to change. During this period flights to additional destinations may be added as required.
The Company will continue to operate rescue flights and will continue to operate cargo flights. In addition, EL AL will operate essential flights as required.
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| Destination | โLast flight |
|---|---|
| โโParis, London and New York | โโUntil 4.4.2020 |
| โOtherย ELAL destinations | Until 2.5.2020 Sun d’Orย – Until 31.5.2020 |
In light of the situation, the Internet service on aircraft isย notย available as of March 24, 2020.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
| โOrigin/Destination | โDepartures | โValidity | Change terms & conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| All EL AL destinations | โUntil 30.6.2021 (inclusive) | For departures from 1.7.2020 until 30.4.21 |
โข No change fees
โข No handling fees
โข Ticket price differences to be paidย ย
โข Cancellation – subject to flight ticket terms and conditions
|
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
El Al Israel Airlines made this announcement:
El Al will continue to maintain the air link between Israel and the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and South Africa. We are offering full flexibility to customers who have tickets for travel through March 31, 2020, and want to advance their return. There will be no change fees or any difference in fare.
As of this Saturday, March 14, 2020, El Al will gradually adjust its flight schedule to Israel from most gateway cities in North America.
El Al CEO Gonen Usishkin stated, โIn recent days and hours, reports of a complete halt by foreign airlines to Ben Gurion International Airport are mounting in light of the new restrictions imposed by the Israel Ministry of Health as well as a decrease in demand. After assessing the current situation, El Al is forced to temporarily and gradually suspend flights on most of the airlineโs worldwide routes, including gateway cities in North America, starting this Sunday, March 15, 2020. As the national airline of Israel, El Al will maintain the air link between Israel and the New York (JFK/Newark), Toronto, London, Paris, and Johannesburg for both passenger and cargo traffic.โ
El Al continues to closely monitor new guidelines set forth by the Israel Ministry of Health and is fully prepared to resume flights quickly to various destinations throughout the world, according to operational and commercial needs.
Here is the adjusted flight schedule from other USA gateway cities until we are able to resume normal operations as soon as possible:
– The last departure from Las Vegas is Saturday, March 14th.
– The last departure from Boston is this Sunday, March 15th.
– The last departure from San Francisco is Monday, March 16th.
– The last departure from Miami is Wednesday, March 18th.
– The last departure from Los Angeles is Thursday, March 19th.
We are recommending that all of our customers advance their return flight to North America.
As a reminder, El Al is allowing customers holding tickets for travel through April 30, 2020, to postpone flights or freeze their tickets for departures starting May 1, 2020, until February 28, 2021, free of charge. No change or reissue fees will apply except for a difference in fare, if applicable.
Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
El Al Israel Airlines made this announcement:
Gonen Usishkin, El Al CEO:
“We are continually monitoring the reports from China.ย We hope that the recent cautious optimism as reported in the global media will indeed continue in the coming days.ย Nevertheless, we at El Al have decided to make commercial adjustments to the schedule in the Far East and increase frequencies to North America and Europe with a focus on the upcoming Passover period.”
El Al will do all possible to assist its passengers holding tickets for the changed or canceled flights, finding alternative flights as needed.
As soon as the situation allows, El Al will reinstate its flights to Beijing and Hong Kong even prior to the dates mentioned.
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
El Al Israel Airlines has announced it will suspend the Tel Aviv – Hong Kong route until at least March 20, 2020.
The airline will also reduce the frequencies on the daily Bangkok route.
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
El Al Israel Airlines issued this financial report for the third quarter 2019:
EL AL’s CEO, Gonen Usishkin:
“Notwithstanding the competition at Ben Gurion Airport, the Company succeeded to increase and improve its market share by 2%, with the number of passengers increasing by 6.5%.
“The Company’s Acquisition Program progresses as planned. Thus far, the Company has received 12 new 787-9 aircraft, and by the end of the first quarter of 2020, 4 additional 787-8 aircraft are expected to arrive, thereby the Program will be completed.
“Alongside this, at the beginning of the year, all the 767-300 aircraft were removed from service and thereafter all the 747-400 aircraft were also removed from service, as the last one terminated its operation at the beginning of this month with a special and exciting farewell flight, after nearly 50 years of service in the Company’s aircraft fleet.
“We completed the major part of the Aircraft Interior Improvement to 737-800NG narrow-body aircraft fleet.
“We entered into an agreement for the lease of 3 additional 737-800NG aircraft for a period of six years, of which the first aircraft is expected to be received in the next month, and the two others are expected to be received in April 2020.
“Out aircraft fleet has become younger and, for the first time, the aircraft average age falls below 10 years. Our product improves and we witness constant increase in our customers’ satisfaction.
“As part of our growth strategy, we enhance existing activities and continue to expand our network of routes by launching routes to new destinations. Thus far in 2019, the Company has launched the routes to Niece, San Francisco, Manchester,ย and Las Vegas, and in 2020 the Company is expected to launch the routes to Chicago, Tokyo, Dublin and Dusseldorf.
“In July 2019, we launched the new booking engine for the Matmid Frequent Flyer Club members and improved the value offer to the club members.
“In September 2019, the Company entered into a triangle agreement with CAL, Diners and a new strategic partner, MasterCard, in connection with the branded credit card, Fly Card. The new card to be issued is a combined Diners and MasterCard credit card that has a global coverage and offers expanded options to redeem points in the aviation and non-aviation world. The Fly Card credit card and the Matmid Frequent Flyer Club constitute one of the most important growth engines of the Company.
“I would like to thank our customers for their trust in EL AL. I am convinced that EL AL will continue to provide its customers with quality service, maximum comfort, technological innovation and advanced airplanes. We are doing the utmost to allow the customer to choose EL AL over and over again.
“I wish to express special appreciation to EL AL people in Israel and worldwide, who work with determination and dedication and make an extra effort for the Company’s success.”
Dganit Palti, EL AL’s CFO:
“The Company recorded a decrease in fuel expenses for the reported quarter, as a result of the decrease in jet fuel market prices and the amount of fuel consumed by the Company’s aircraft, notwithstanding the 8% growth in operations, mainly due to the operation of the 787-9 aircraft, which are more efficient in fuel consumption.
“The initial implementation of the accounting standard IFRS 16 adversely affected the Company’s results for the quarter by approximately USD 4.5 million, and for the first nine months of the year โ by approximately USD 14.5 million.
“The company has signed an agreement with a JOLCO structure to finance the first 787-8 aircraft, expected to arrive this weekend. The USD 125 million financing includes a USD 106 million loan from a foreign bank for a 12-year period and an additional USD 19 million in Japanese Yen, to be provided by a Japanese company. The balance of the debt will be repaid after ten years at a pre-agreed amount of USD 45 million.”
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
Viasat made this announcement:
El Al Israel Airlines, the national air carrier of Israel, and Viasat Inc., a global communications company, today announced they expanded their successful relationship, adding the Boeing 777 wide body fleet to the mix of EL AL aircraft with Viasat’s equipment for high-speed in-flight connectivity (IFC). In addition to the Boeing 777 fleet, Viasat equipment currently powers the connectivity experience across EL AL’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737-900 and part of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. EL AL plans to have all widebody aircraft equipped with Viasat’s latest generation IFC solution and all narrow-body fleet equipped with Viasat’s in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) offering. El Al expects to have the majority of its fleet connected with the Viasat service by the end of 2020.
The Viasat in-flight Wi-Fi service offers an at-home or office experience in the sky, keeping flight crews connected for enhanced passenger service and enabling passengers using smartphones, tablets or laptop computers the ability to browse websites, connect to email and instant messaging, use apps and social networks and to stream music and/or films when in-flight.
Today, El Al offers three in-flight Wi-Fi packagesโBasic, Social and Businessโwhich can be purchased during the flight through the El Al Wi-Fi portal via credit card or EL AL Matmid Club points.
El Al aircraft photo gallery:
El Al Israel Airlines has confirmed the last Boeing 747 revenue passenger flight for tomorrow (November 3) from Rome to Tel Aviv with this announcement:
A historic morning at Ben Gurion Airport! EL AL management raised a toast with members of the Matmid Frequent Flyer Club who joined us for the very last two commercial flights of the 747, also known as โThe Queen of the Skies.โ
Above Copyright Photo: El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 747-458 4X-ELA (msn 26055) LHR (SPA). Image: 948041.
EL AL invites you to follow the last commercial flight of the 747 jumbo aircraft which will depart from Rome this Sunday at 4 am EST and land in Tel Aviv.
In honor of this noteworthy event, the 747 aircraft will operate on a one-time historic flight path and create a “sky painting” of a Boeing 747 that will be broadcast live worldwide in cooperation with Flightradar24.
The aircraft will begin to create the “painting” about two hours after takeoff when flying above southern Cyprus. The Boeing 747-400 fleet has been replaced by the new EL AL 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which are being utilized on most U.S. Israel nonstop routes.
After 48 years, during which ELย AL has flown many 747 models, the fleetโs activity has come to an end. ELย AL is bidding farewell to the Boeing 747 Jumbo fleet, โQueen of the Skyโ marking the end of a historic chapter in Israel aviation.
Above Copyright Photo: El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 747-238B 4X-AXQ (msn 20841) LHR (SPA). Image: 948042.
ELย AL invites you to follow the last commercial flight of its 747 aircraft: Flight LY1747 from Rome to Telย Aviv.
The flight will depart on Sunday November 3, 2019 at 10am local time (11am Israel time). In honor of the event it will operate on a one-time historic flight path.
This flight path will create a โsky paintingโ of a Boeing 747 that will be broadcast live throughout the world in cooperation with Flightradar24.
Update: Boeing 747-458 4X-ELC (msn 27915) operated flight LY1747 FCO-TLV on November 3, 2019.
Top Copyright Photo: El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 747-458 4X-ELB (msn 26056) LHR (SPA). Image: 948040.
El Al aircraft slide show:
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