EL AL Launching Flights To Orlando

Being an ex Floridian, and having lived in Orlando, my jaw dropped when I read the title. Orlando is a good airport but I wouldn't expect service to Israel on El Al. I agree that Chicago would have probably been higher. Regardless I'm super happy for MCO!

Cue the same reaction when EK launched MCO.

Can the 787 be fitted with anti-missile defence systems?

So will the crew get a week of paid vacation there? Nice!

I wonder if the Mouse had anything to do with this? Maybe Israel really loves Star Wars.

my grandmother lives in florida

this is very EXCITING

it's a very annoying connection flight to take that can be VERY expensive!

The Israelis will find out how expensive it will be to visit Disney or Universal for an entire week!

@therealbabushka
All el al aircraft are fitted with the anti-missile technology; the 787 shouldn’t be any different for IAI to install vs a 777.

I get EK launching flights there. It's a pretty good route for them. But this makes very little sense. Still happy though.

Don't underestimate the power of The Mouse. Or the huge convention business the Orlando area also does. Looking down the list of US airport passenger counts, I think the only airport that does more O&D business rather than being someone's hub is Las Vegas.

Yeah I thought they'd launch flights to Dallas, Chicago, Houston or DC.... Now theyre prolly gonna launch flights to Vancouver or Seattle or Detroit.

I think there's a couple things at play here:

1). Yes, other routes like IAD, ORD, DFW would probably be higher on the list, but those routes would also put LY up against UA & AA who would most likely retaliate by launching their own non-stop service. Plus those markets warrant more than 1x week service and perhaps LY doesn't have enough aircraft to launch a new ULH route 3-4x week.

2). While S. Fla has an extremely large Jewish population, central FL also has a growing Jewish population and perhaps LY is looking to tap into that and slowly grow their ops there.

Just my two cents...

Just out of curiosity, does anybody know how things work with the flight crews on a schedule like this?

There's no way El Al puts them up and pays them for a week in Orlando, right? Would they deadhead down to Miami and work into that rotation? Do they send the return crew over as passengers on the outbound?

El Al is known for operating kiosks in the mall selling gadgets, so the crew works in the mall, and then they moonlight in the local synagogue as clergy and ushers for the sabbath

the route is only for 7 weeks in the summer, not a permanent year round route

Probably significantly bulk sold to cruise and package tour operators. I bet this fight is practically a charter.