On June 13, 2025, we saw EL AL suspend operations, and even move its planes out of Israel, in light of the conflict with Iran. This was pretty significant, as it was the first time since October 2023 that EL AL canceled service for any material amount of time.
There’s now an interesting update, as the airline has started gradually resuming service, in line with government regulations. While I first covered this yesterday, there’s an interesting update in terms of the pricing, plus the artificial cap on passengers.
In this post:
EL AL starts operating limited “rescue” flights
EL AL is resuming outbound flights from Israel as of today (Monday, June 23, 2025). However, the airline isn’t operating its regular schedule. Instead, the airline is operating a very limited number of routes, flying to eight destinations. Destinations include Athens (ATH), Bangkok (BKK), Larnaca (LCA), London (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Paris (CDG), and Rome (FCO).
Beyond these special flights, the airline has otherwise canceled flights through June 27, 2025, and has closed bookings for flights through July 15, 2025. The government is still deciding on the timeline with which regularly scheduled flights will resume.
For these flights, there’s a strict limit of 50 passengers per flight when departing Tel Aviv, regardless of the destination. Why? According to Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev, here’s the logic for that:
“We need to limit the number of passengers on planes that are on the tarmac during this challenging period when the airport can be a target.”
What a fascinating approach to take. So I guess the government has decided that it’s safe for 50 people to take a flight, but not for 200 people to take a flight? I wonder how one does the analysis on that, and decides on the optimal number of passengers.
Passengers have to register their interest for flights
With only 50 seats per flight and a very limited schedule, how is EL AL prioritizing demand? Well, the airline has opened a registration page on its website, where travelers can express interest in taking one of these flights.
There are different forms depending on whether you’re an Israeli stranded abroad, or are in Israel and want to depart. The government estimates that 40,000 foreign tourists are currently in the country, while 100,000 Israelis are currently abroad.
Priority for tickets is being given to life-saving, humanitarian, and national security cases. Those who had tickets on canceled EL AL flights also have priority. There are some added restrictions for passengers, like that Israelis traveling abroad on one of these flights can’t return within 30 days.
The ticket prices here are clearly being subsidized, as the fares are really low, when you consider that only 50 people can be carried per flight. We’re talking fares ranging from $99 for Larnaca, to $795 for Los Angeles. Meanwhile those who were on canceled EL AL flights are being accommodated at no additional cost.
I wonder if the government is subsidizing these flights, if EL AL is covering the difference (especially in light of its price gouging lawsuit), or what.
Bottom line
EL AL is resuming operations as of today, Monday, June 23, 2025, after a roughly 10 day suspension. The airline isn’t resuming its regular schedule, though, and is instead operating a limited number of flights for which it gets government approval. Each of these flights is capped at 50 passengers, apparently to limit the ability for the airport to be a target.
What do you make of EL AL’s service resumption?
Also disclosed under the airfares:
Due to the current situation and operational constraints, in-flight food and beverage service may not be available. Please plan accordingly.
People still can't see between the lines.
War hunger people knows that the magic of propaganda is wearing off and the idea of running away from being drafted into a full scale war grows. They know brainwashing people during the mandatory conscription isn't as effective anymore.
Make TikTok content not wars.
Bro, making “TikTok content” will not stop the mad mullahs from sponsoring terrorism, nor, attempting to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. For if they ever obtained weapons of mass destruction, all of your TikTok content making would not stop them from using those weapons against the children of Israel.
Think on ….
AeroB13a
1) Does Israel have a nuclear weapons program?
2) And is it signed up to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty - ie the same one that it is accusing Iran of breaching?
Answers as far as I have researched:
1) it has never publicly confirmed. However, an Israeli whistleblower revealed details of his work at an Israeli nuclear weapons facility to a UK newspaper Mossad kidnapped him and returned him to Israel where...
AeroB13a
1) Does Israel have a nuclear weapons program?
2) And is it signed up to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty - ie the same one that it is accusing Iran of breaching?
Answers as far as I have researched:
1) it has never publicly confirmed. However, an Israeli whistleblower revealed details of his work at an Israeli nuclear weapons facility to a UK newspaper Mossad kidnapped him and returned him to Israel where he spent 18 years in prison (google Mordechai Vanunu).
2) No. It is not. Fact.
But it is ok, because unlike Iran, Israel always seeks international agreement on using weapons against other countries, right?
Propaganda in the west is nothing new which is ironic as the west loves to think this is just a non-western thing.
A perfect example from the 1980's:
In 1983 Russian fighter jets 'accidentally' shot down a Korean Air Lines commercial flight that had strayed into closed airspace.
The Newsweek cover on the incident (Sep 12, 1983) was "Murder in the Air".
In 1988 a US warship 'accidentally' shot down an Iran Air commercial...
Propaganda in the west is nothing new which is ironic as the west loves to think this is just a non-western thing.
A perfect example from the 1980's:
In 1983 Russian fighter jets 'accidentally' shot down a Korean Air Lines commercial flight that had strayed into closed airspace.
The Newsweek cover on the incident (Sep 12, 1983) was "Murder in the Air".
In 1988 a US warship 'accidentally' shot down an Iran Air commercial flight who was WITHIN open airspace. Ironically, the Vincennes was amongst the most modern warship at the time yet could not access commercial airline radio.
The Newsweek cover on the incident (July 18, 1988) "The Gulf tragedy - why it happened".
The thing you have to understand about Miri Regev is that she's an idiot
How so Elijah’s, how so?
Awful that they are allowed to fly
Absolutely Peter, the Iranian airline industry has absolutely no business transporting its Muslim fundamentalists to the countries who have no wish to be contaminated by their medieval customs and beliefs.
If Transportation Minister Regev does not want to have so many people on the tarmac at one time, they should process the passengers away from the airport and bring in 200 prechecked passengers whose luggage is all ready loaded on a pallet. The plane should be loaded with food and supplies from Cypress . The difference of time for 50 passengers vs 200 pasengers would be small.
Alternatively, The luggage can be sent separately sent with a cargo plane.
How about flights to The Hague for each genocidal Israeli to be put on trial?
Would keep El Al flying for eternity.
Bibi, if you wanted to be serious then you might like to admit that there are more “Genocidal” Islamist on this planet, than your outrageous claims of “Israeli” fictional trial candidates.
Enough with your genocidal Hasbara, AeroBenGvir.
Piss off on a one way ticket to The Hague, child murderer
Good morning
Looking at Flightradar24, TLV is very busy with international flights coming and going on numerous carriers.
The naysayers will not be impressed, poor darlinks.
The world’s biggest gaslighters once again trying to play the victim card.
I don't understand it: why isn't e.g. Larnaca airport set up as a temporary hub?
The fares are fixed and actually very reasonable given the situation propagated by Iran.
Pax whose flights from Israel were canceled, and were scheduled to depart between June 13 and June 30, 2025, and who are reassigned to these flights, will not be required to pay an additional fee.
For all other passengers fixed one-way fares:
Larnaca: $99.
Athens: $149.
Rome, Paris, London: $299.
New York, Los Angeles: $795.
Bangkok: $695.
So they must be subsidized by the government otherwise the airline will be going out of business shortly
You misspelled Israel in your first sentence.
Israel bombed Iran first, Vishal.
Israel illegally occupied Palestine first, Vishal.
Surely GZ, you cannot possibly be serious now?
Oh wow wasn't sure how I would make it through the day without yet another article about Israel. This is really just clickbait because nobody is doing award travel to Israel right now.
My moral struggle is this:
People made a CHOICE to take their families to a war zone. Israel has declared it is a “war” with Hamas.
As can happen with war, others get sucked into the conflict. Israel decided to engage Iran, while the US fell in line. Reason aside, that happened. As a result, travel in the region has become very dangerous, difficult, and limited.
US citizens are then “rescued” using my/your/our...
My moral struggle is this:
People made a CHOICE to take their families to a war zone. Israel has declared it is a “war” with Hamas.
As can happen with war, others get sucked into the conflict. Israel decided to engage Iran, while the US fell in line. Reason aside, that happened. As a result, travel in the region has become very dangerous, difficult, and limited.
US citizens are then “rescued” using my/your/our tax dollars back to the US. When said individuals were rescued not a single one of them reflected on how they made a choice and yet are entitled to be rescued when their choice doesn’t play out the way they intended.
Meanwhile, the government of Israel speaks of obliterating entire communities while accusing others calling for the same fate to befall Israel as being “anti-semitic.”
Did. Miss anything?
It was not a war zone when the visitors travelled there. It was a Country recovering from being attacked.
As in previous situations, Americans are charged costs after such flights.
@Moe while I agree with you that categorizing Israel itself as a war zone prior to this month is wrong, Israel is a country that has conducted attacks in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran, thus making it a country at war ever since October 2023 (and internationally so since October 2024).
Countries at war are subject to being attacked at any point.
So yes, anyone who actively decided to travel to Israel at this point should...
@Moe while I agree with you that categorizing Israel itself as a war zone prior to this month is wrong, Israel is a country that has conducted attacks in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran, thus making it a country at war ever since October 2023 (and internationally so since October 2024).
Countries at war are subject to being attacked at any point.
So yes, anyone who actively decided to travel to Israel at this point should really be held fully liable of any resulting repatriation costs because they clearly didn't reflect enough (be it intentional or not) about what they were getting into.
If what you are saying about Americans being charged is true, that's fair. But many countries (e.g. Germany and Spain) don't charge nationals for repatriation flights, the state (aka everyone's taxes) pays for it.
It’s all about minimizing crowding at the airport, and I’d imagine also maximizing lift during takeoff. If the airport is operating at capacity, the shelter space is sufficient but limited and far more chaotic. Fewer passengers at the airport reduces risk while the airport remains a target and makes boarding faster.
The Israeli Transport Minister said that outbound flights are capped at 50 because “We need to limit the number of passengers on planes that are on the tarmac during this challenging period when the airport can be a target.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/over-1000-passengers-slated-to-leave-israel-tomorrow-when-outgoing-flights-restart/
Can’t they just cross into Jordan and fly from Amman? I assume land borders are open?
Land borders are indeed open. The Israeli Government recommends against travel to Jordan, so some Israelis and tourists are hesitant. Some travellers are also not so resourceful and wait for governments to rescue them.
The reason is that these planes need to turn quickly on the ground and depart. It takes much longer to board a plane then it does to deplane. Thus, the government is limiting to 50 passengers so as to quickly turn the planes and limit the time on the ground so as to avoid the risk of an Iranian strike on the planes/airport.
ELAL, etc, have been flying between LCA-TLV for a couple of days now. I also note ATH-TLV today …. bringing IDF and other Israeli holiday makers home perhaps?
My understanding is the flights will operate at full capacity. EL AL will fill 50 passengers of their own customers and the rest will be filled by the government.
To me this makes a lot more sense but wouldn’t be surprised if its really 50 pax per flight for whatever security or safety reasons the gov sites.
It’s 50 per flight. Quick boarding. Lower numbers to checkin on the limited Level 1 desks at TLV. (Better protection from missiles).
Israel fatigue
Such a pity for you 420.
Surely it is better to be a fatigued citizen today, rather than an oppressed one tomorrow under the mad mullahs, yes?
@AeroB13a
If you think Iran has any real ability to launch a land invasion of Israel, you're the mad one. @Angel Divinto has it right. Netanyahu has been claiming Iran is weeks away from a working nuclear weapon for 30 something years now. Netanyahu made the same claims about Iraq in 2002, and pushed W Bush and the US Congress to invade Iraq, pulling the US into a 2 decade quagmire over an imagined...
@AeroB13a
If you think Iran has any real ability to launch a land invasion of Israel, you're the mad one. @Angel Divinto has it right. Netanyahu has been claiming Iran is weeks away from a working nuclear weapon for 30 something years now. Netanyahu made the same claims about Iraq in 2002, and pushed W Bush and the US Congress to invade Iraq, pulling the US into a 2 decade quagmire over an imagined threat that in any case would have only been existential for Israel, if even that. In Trump's first term, he persuaded Trump to end the JCPOA despite every international intelligence agency and the IAEA saying Iran was abiding by the terms of the deal. That CREATED this mess by removing all oversight from Iran's nuclear program. Now he's unilaterally and openly attack Iran, and relying on Trump's pathological need to be the center of attention (only "Trump's" bunker-busters can finish the job!) to rope the United States in as well.
Dusty, you might not like to acknowledge the fact that the mad mullahs wish to turn this planet into an Islamic Republic World.
Currently they might not be able to dominate the world though any sort of “Land invasion”, however, the Islamists are trying their hardest to out breed us.
@AeroB13a
A lot of national leaders would like a lot of things. It's up to us as individuals to keep a grounded and realistic view on the actual capability of those leaders to achieve said goals. Iran for example has had an incredibly unpopular regime for a long time (though Israel's actions and now the US's are causing a temporary "rally around the flag" effect), and that's unlikely to change. Iran, with a population...
@AeroB13a
A lot of national leaders would like a lot of things. It's up to us as individuals to keep a grounded and realistic view on the actual capability of those leaders to achieve said goals. Iran for example has had an incredibly unpopular regime for a long time (though Israel's actions and now the US's are causing a temporary "rally around the flag" effect), and that's unlikely to change. Iran, with a population of just under 100 million, is going to be hard-pressed to affect any kind of global "Islamic Republic", even if the government did somehow also have the unyielding support of every Muslim regardless of nationality, which they don't.
If you're as familiar with the regional history as you claim to be, I shouldn't need to remind you of the Sunni-Shia split. The Islamic faith is not a monolith any more than the Christian faith is. And with regards to "outbreeding", the idea that that's an achievable policy goal is laughable. Every country, as it becomes more educated and more developed, experiences lower birthrates. It's more pronounced in western countries where women have more bodily autonomy yes, but if you look Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, you'll see that same trend playing out. It should be obvious that any claim that a country or religion is trying to "outbreed" another to take over is fearmongering bullshit completely divorced from the reality of increased education, developing economies, and even just international differences and tensions. Just as westerners have more identities than just their religion or lack thereof, so do Muslims.
Dusty, you might believe everything which you so eloquently write, however, you conveniently forget one very important fact …. the Sunni and Shia Muslims are not the only followers of the Islamic faith.
Please remember this exchange of views, I probably will not see the results of my understanding, undoubtedly they will be some who do.
@AeroB13a
I've traveled a lot, and one consistent thing I've observed is that most people regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion just want to go about their lives. With regards to Islamic sects, sure there's more than just Sunni and Shia in the same way that there's more than just Catholic and Protestant Christian faiths. That doesn't mean there's a majority or even a large proportion of bloodthirsty Muslims actively trying to turn Israel...
@AeroB13a
I've traveled a lot, and one consistent thing I've observed is that most people regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion just want to go about their lives. With regards to Islamic sects, sure there's more than just Sunni and Shia in the same way that there's more than just Catholic and Protestant Christian faiths. That doesn't mean there's a majority or even a large proportion of bloodthirsty Muslims actively trying to turn Israel into a parking lot, regardless of what the deeply unpopular authoritarian leader of a single country claims.
Have another cone, 420, and relax.
Same.
How much of this is about protecting Israel and how much of it is about keeping Netanyahu keeping himself in power by placating his ultra-orthodox coalition party partners who hold the key to him retaining his position?
How much of this is about the TRILLION dollar US weapons industry?
Where next after Iran? Lebanon? Or some curve ball like Iraq?
Answers on a postcard.
When you look at the WORLDWIDE media it is basically...
Same.
How much of this is about protecting Israel and how much of it is about keeping Netanyahu keeping himself in power by placating his ultra-orthodox coalition party partners who hold the key to him retaining his position?
How much of this is about the TRILLION dollar US weapons industry?
Where next after Iran? Lebanon? Or some curve ball like Iraq?
Answers on a postcard.
When you look at the WORLDWIDE media it is basically Israel and America in support of any of this. Of course the rest of the western world feels compelled to play along and pleads for 'de-escalation' so as not to go on Don's naughty list.
Politicians disgust me.
The reason is that having large crowds at TLV airport might make it an Iranian missile target so having smaller crowds minimizes the risk. There are bans on large gatherings in general in Israel now due to Iranian missiles so this is part of that. It’s also a lot riskier to have hundreds of people running to shelter. (In Israel there are MORE injuries from people running etc getting TO the shelter then from missiles...
The reason is that having large crowds at TLV airport might make it an Iranian missile target so having smaller crowds minimizes the risk. There are bans on large gatherings in general in Israel now due to Iranian missiles so this is part of that. It’s also a lot riskier to have hundreds of people running to shelter. (In Israel there are MORE injuries from people running etc getting TO the shelter then from missiles once people are in shelter)
They have been doing rescue flights for Israelis coming home from abroad and it had full load but they couldn’t have relatives come to the airport to pick them up rather they were dropped off at different subway stations.
I know a lot of gullible people have been well and truly suckered in by the propaganda constantly spewing from the mouthpieces of a chronically lying government that even gives Trump a run for his money, but there's no indication whatsoever that Iran is "targeting large crowds".
Even if you were gullible enough to believe that rubbish and thought they were, I would hope it's patently obvious why they wouldn't attempt to blow up a...
I know a lot of gullible people have been well and truly suckered in by the propaganda constantly spewing from the mouthpieces of a chronically lying government that even gives Trump a run for his money, but there's no indication whatsoever that Iran is "targeting large crowds".
Even if you were gullible enough to believe that rubbish and thought they were, I would hope it's patently obvious why they wouldn't attempt to blow up a crowd of largely foreign citizens trying to leave Israel while they're already overwhelmed by the attacks from Israel alone.
You can't be serious. Iran has been targeting only civilians. All 24 fatalities so far have been civilians, including an Ukrainian family in Israel for cancer treatment for their 7 year old daughter.
The Mullahs have got to go.
My Israel posts bring all the site traffic to the yard...
Would be interesting to see if these are subsidized as El Al has been accused of price gouging, since they were the only airline to be operating in and out of Tel Aviv during most of the conflict. The 50 seat cap doesn't make much sense either.
Prices are fixed, and likely Subsidized. $99 to larnaka, $149 to greece, something like $750 to Ny or lax....