El Al

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El Al Israel Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
LY ELY EL AL
Founded15 November 1948; 77 years ago (1948-11-15)
Commenced operations29 September 1948 (1948-09-29) (inaugural flight)
HubsBen Gurion Airport
Frequent-flyer programMatmid
Fleet size51
Destinations49
Parent companyKnafaim Holdings Ltd.
HeadquartersBen Gurion Airport, Lod, Israel
Key peopleLevy Halevy (CEO)
Amikam Ben Zvi (Chairman)
RevenueIncrease US$3.48 billion (2025)
Operating incomeDecrease US$947 million (EBITDAR, 2025)
Net incomeDecrease US$410 million (2025)
Websitewww.elal.com

El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (Hebrew: אל על נתיבי אוויר לישראל בע״מ; Arabic: إل عال), trading as El Al (Hebrew: אל על, "To the Skies" or "Skywards"), is the flag carrier of Israel.[1] Founded on 15 November 1948, the airline operates scheduled domestic and international passenger and cargo services from its hub at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, serving destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.[2] El Al is widely regarded as one of the world's most secure airlines due to its stringent security protocols, which include armed plainclothes sky marshals on every flight, reinforced cockpit doors, extensive passenger interrogations, and onboard missile defence systems.[3][4]

History[edit | edit source]

Founding and early years (1948–1960s)[edit | edit source]

El Al was incorporated as a limited company on 15 November 1948 and officially inaugurated its service with a flight from Geneva to Tel Aviv in September 1948, carrying Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president, back from a conference in Switzerland.[5][6] The name "El Al" comes from the Book of Hosea (11:7) and means "upward" or "to the skies."[5] The airline commenced scheduled services to Rome, Paris, London, and Zurich in 1949.[5] El Al became Israel's official flag carrier and was initially fully owned by the state.[2]

Rescue operations and expansion (1949–1990s)[edit | edit source]

El Al played a central role in several major rescue operations that airlifted Jews from around the world to Israel. Operation Magic Carpet (1949–1950) brought approximately 47,000 Yemenite Jews and 3,000 Habbani Jews from the Arabian Peninsula to Israel.[5] Operation Ezra and Nehemiah (1950–1951) airlifted 113,000 Jews from Iraq to Israel.[7] In the 1990s, El Al participated in Operation Exodus, which brought hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to Israel.[5] Operation Solomon (1991) rescued thousands of Ethiopian Jews, with one El Al Boeing 747 setting an all-time record by carrying 1,087 passengers on a single flight.[5][8]

El Al operated an all-Boeing fleet since its founding, with many aircraft named after Israeli cities.[1] The airline's first nonstop New York–Tel Aviv flight on a Boeing 707 in June 1961 set a long-distance record for commercial passenger service.[7] In 1961, El Al introduced its first jet aircraft, and by the 1970s it operated a fleet that included Boeing 707s, 720s, and 747s.[7]

Privatisation (2003–2005)[edit | edit source]

Until June 2004, El Al was a "government corporation" in the process of privatisation.[9] The first phase of privatisation commenced in June 2003 with an initial public offering of 15% of shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.[10] By January 2005, a controlling share had been transferred to Knafaim-Arkia Holdings Ltd., ending the national airline's era as a state-owned corporation.[11] The State of Israel retained a Special State Share and approximately 1.1% of the share capital.[12]

Recent developments (2020s)[edit | edit source]

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted El Al, with the airline reporting losses of $530 million in 2020 and $413 million in 2021.[13] The airline recovered strongly in subsequent years, posting record revenues of $3.43 billion and a net profit of $545 million in 2024, driven by high demand and the suspension of most foreign airlines' operations to Israel during regional conflicts.[14] In 2025, El Al reported revenues of approximately $3.48 billion and a net profit of $410 million, a 25% decline from the previous year as foreign airlines gradually returned to Israel.[15]

In December 2025, Dina Ben Tal Ganancia stepped down as CEO after three years in the position, during which she became the first woman to head El Al and led the airline to record profits.[16] Levy Halevy assumed the role of CEO in January 2026.[17]

Fleet[edit | edit source]

As of April 2026, El Al operates an all-Boeing fleet of 51 aircraft:[18]

El Al fleet (as of April 2026)
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-800 16 — 154–189
Boeing 737-900ER 8 — 175–189
Boeing 737 MAX — 20 TBA Deliveries from 2028; order for up to 31[19]
Boeing 777-200ER 6 — 313 Cabin refurbishment ongoing[20]
Boeing 787-8 4 — 238
Boeing 787-9 13 11 282 Fleet to grow to 28 by 2030[21]
Boeing 737-800BCF 1 — Cargo Operated by El Al Cargo[22]
Total 51 31

El Al placed its largest-ever aircraft order in August 2024, finalising an agreement for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX jets valued at up to $2.5 billion, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028.[23] In April 2026, the airline ordered an additional six Boeing 787-9s and secured options for six more, with deliveries expected between 2030 and 2032.[18] El Al's strategic plan aims to grow its passenger fleet to 61 aircraft by 2030, carrying an estimated 7.6 million travellers annually.[22]

Destinations[edit | edit source]

El Al serves approximately 49 destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America from its hub at Ben Gurion Airport.[24] The airline has announced significant network expansion in recent years, adding new routes to Hanoi, Seoul, Manila, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, and several European leisure destinations including Catania, Cagliari, Basel, Zagreb, and Dubrovnik.[25][26]

In the United States, El Al operates flights to six destinations: New York (JFK and Newark), Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.[25] The airline's long-haul network also includes Bangkok, Phuket, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires.[25]

Security[edit | edit source]

El Al maintains some of the strictest security measures of any commercial airline in the world, a direct response to decades of terrorist threats and attacks targeting Israeli aviation.[3][4] These measures include:

  • Armed plainclothes sky marshals on every flight, trained to respond to hijacking attempts and terrorist incidents.[3]
  • Reinforced cockpit doors featuring a double-door system with an interlocking mechanism, making unauthorised entry extremely difficult.[3]
  • Extensive passenger interrogations conducted by El Al's own security staff at departure airports, with travellers who raise suspicion subject to additional screening.[4]
  • Onboard missile defence systems: El Al was the first commercial airline to equip its aircraft with the Flight Guard system, which detects and diverts surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS). In 2014, it incorporated the Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS).[3]
  • Reinforced cockpit floors made of steel to prevent passengers from breaking through to the cargo compartment.[3]
  • Vehicle inspections and 24-hour camera surveillance at Ben Gurion Airport, with all vehicles entering the airport complex subject to rigorous inspection by armed agents.[3]
  • Advanced baggage screening using computerised tomography scanners, X-ray machines, and pressure chambers designed to detonate potential explosives.[3]

The airline also complies with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) standards and has been recognised as one of the world's safest airlines by multiple publications.[27] Only one El Al flight has ever been successfully hijacked — El Al Flight 426 in 1968 — and that incident resulted in no fatalities.[28]

Subsidiaries[edit | edit source]

El Al's subsidiaries include:[29]

  • Sun d'Or International Airlines: A wholly-owned charter and scheduled airline established in 1977, operating regular, ad-hoc, and seasonal passenger services to destinations throughout Europe.[30]
  • El Al Cargo: The airline's cargo division, operating belly cargo on passenger flights and a Boeing 737-800BCF freighter. In 2025, El Al's cargo revenue totalled approximately $141.5 million.[31]
  • Superstar Holidays: A tourist wholesaler marketing package deals to travel agents and passengers.[29]
  • Tamam-Catering: Provides food and Kosher meals complying with Jewish dietary laws.[29]

El Al is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam).[32] However, it maintains codeshare agreements with several airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, JetBlue, TAROM, and LOT Polish Airlines.[32][33]

Financial performance[edit | edit source]

El Al's financial performance has been volatile, reflecting the impact of regional conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and fluctuating competition:

El Al financial results (2019–2025)
Year Revenue (US$ bn) Net profit/loss (US$ m) Notes
2019 2.18 (77) Pre-pandemic[9]
2020 0.62 (530) COVID-19 impact[13]
2021 0.86 (413) Continued pandemic impact[13]
2022 1.99 109 Recovery begins[34]
2023 2.50 117 Record revenue at the time[34]
2024 3.43 545 Record profit; wartime near-monopoly[14]
2025 3.48 410 Foreign airlines return; profit decline[15]

El Al's market capitalisation on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: ELAL) was approximately ₪10.0 billion as of August 2026, with a share price of around ₪16.90.[35]

Incidents and accidents[edit | edit source]

El Al Flight 426 hijacking (1968)[edit | edit source]

Main article: El Al Flight 426

On 23 July 1968, El Al Flight 426, a Boeing 707 en route from Rome to Tel Aviv, was hijacked by three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and diverted to Algiers, Algeria.[36] The hijackers demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The ordeal lasted 40 days and ended with the release of 16 Palestinian prisoners, which Israel described as a "humanitarian gesture."[37] This incident is considered the only successful hijacking involving an El Al jet.[28]

Attempted hijacking of El Al Flight 219 (1970)[edit | edit source]

On 6 September 1970, El Al Flight 219, a Boeing 707 flying from Tel Aviv to New York via Amsterdam, was targeted by two hijackers — Leila Khaled and Patrick Argüello — as part of the Dawson's Field hijackings.[38] The hijackers were overpowered by El Al security personnel and passengers. Argüello was shot and killed by an El Al sky marshal, and Khaled was subdued and arrested upon landing at Heathrow Airport.[39] One steward was seriously injured during the struggle.[40]

Munich airport attack (1970)[edit | edit source]

On 10 February 1970, three terrorists attacked El Al passengers in a bus at Munich-Riem Airport with guns and grenades. One passenger, engineer Ari Katzenstein, was killed, and 11 others were injured, including Israeli actress Hanna Maron.[41]

El Al Flight 1862 crash (1992)[edit | edit source]

Main article: El Al Flight 1862

On 4 October 1992, El Al Flight 1862, a Boeing 747-200F cargo aircraft, crashed into the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood of Amsterdam shortly after takeoff from Schiphol Airport.[42] The crash occurred after both engines on the right wing separated from the aircraft during climb-out.[42] All four people on board were killed, along with 43 people on the ground.[42] The accident led to industry-wide changes in engine strut design philosophy.[42]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "EL AL Israel Airlines". APG. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Company Overview" (PDF). El Al Israel Airlines. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Companhia aérea mais protegida do mundo adota medidas extremas de segurança antes e durante os voos". Aeroin. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Attempted hijacking of Tel Aviv-bound plane revives specter of threat dating back to the 1970s". El País. 30 September 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "El Al Poster for 25th Independence Day, 1973". National Library of Israel. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "This Day in Jewish History: 1948: El Al takes wing, not that it existed yet". Haaretz. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "EL AL – Israel's Star in the Skies: The story of an airline, the history of the country" (PDF). El Al Israel Airlines. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Most passengers on an aircraft". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Annual Report 2006" (PDF). El Al Israel Airlines. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "Privatization Lifts El Al Hopes for Higher Profits, More Services". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  11. ↑ "Borovich brothers officially assume control of El Al, end state-owned era". Haaretz. 24 December 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "Ownership and Legal Structure" (PDF). El Al Israel Airlines. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "El Al 2021 losses narrow but remain large". Globes. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "El Al posts record-high $545 million profit in 2024, following wartime near-monopoly". The Times of Israel. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "El Al 2025 Financial Results: Net Profit Hits $410M Despite Yield Erosion". Port2Port. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  16. ↑ "Ex El Al CEO denies price gouging". Globes. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  17. ↑ "El Al identifies date for chief executive succession". FlightGlobal. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "El Al hands Boeing an order for another six 787s". FlightGlobal. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  19. ↑ "Israel's EL AL boosts fleet with deal for 737 MAX jets". Aviation Business News. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  20. ↑ "El Al to refurbish all six 777s by first quarter of 2027". FlightGlobal. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "El Al to buy up to 12 more Boeing 787s". AeroTime. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "El Al explores acquisition of widebody freighter as part of fleet expansion plan". FlightGlobal. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  23. ↑ "EL AL Israel Airlines finalizes order for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX jets". Xinhua News Agency. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "El Al - Flights, Reviews and Ticket Deals". Trip.com. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "El Al Expands US Network with San Francisco Route". Airways Magazine. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  26. ↑ "Israel's national airline launches 1st-ever direct flights to Philippines". Xinhua News Agency. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  27. ↑ "IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)" (PDF). El Al Israel Airlines. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "What the Flight 253 Case Teaches Us on Air Security and Al-Qaeda". European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 "EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES LTD. (ELAL.TA)". Reuters. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  30. ↑ "Sun d'Or International Airlines". CAPA. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  31. ↑ "El Al 2025 Financial Results: Net Profit Hits $410M Despite Yield Erosion". Port2Port. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Delta Air Lines, El Al ink strategic partnership agreement". CH-Aviation. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  33. ↑ "El Al and Romania's TAROM launch codeshare, boosting Tel Aviv-Bucharest flights". Star Alliance. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Israel's flagship airline records all-time high revenue in 2023". Xinhua News Agency. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  35. ↑ "El Al Israel Airlines (TASE:ELAL) Stock Report". Simply Wall St. 28 August 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  36. ↑ "The Hijacking of El Al Flight 426". RAND Corporation. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  37. ↑ "Middle East; A Hijacked Plane Stirs New Tensions". The New York Times. 28 July 1968. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  38. ↑ "4 Jets Hijacked". The New York Times. 7 September 1970. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  39. ↑ "World: Drama of the Desert: The Week of the Hostages". Time. 21 September 1970. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  40. ↑ "Brave Steward". Papers Past. 28 September 1970. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  41. ↑ "Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief Chronology". United States Department of State. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 "El Al Flight 1862, 4X-AXG". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 3 October 2026.

External links[edit | edit source]

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