Flights between Israel and long-haul locations just like the US and Thailand have develop into prohibitively costly with international airways staying away leaving El Al Israel Airways Ltd. (TASE:ELAL) with a digital monopoly. In response to El Al’s third quarter report, the airline had a 86.4% market share of flights between Israel and North America and a 70.6% market share of flights to south and east Asia.
However following the ceasefire with Hezbollah and the return of many international airways to Israel (though not US airways), there are extra choices for connection flights to North America and Asia at significantly cheaper fares than El Al.
There are presently 22 international airways flying to and from Ben Gurion airport out of over 80 that had been working earlier than the struggle. However amongst these resuming flights within the subsequent few days are Spanish provider Air Europe, which is able to provide 5 weekly flights with good connections to South America and Blue Fowl which is able to provide three weekly flights to Rome.
Hungarian low-cost provider Wizz Air, which is able to at first solely provide flights to Cyprus however from January different European locations like London. Wizz Air’s web site has return tickets to London in February for simply $232 in contrast with El Al’s fares of $500 and naturally from London there are an array of cheaper return tickets to North America.
A lot decrease than El Al
Subsequent week Polish provider Lot Airways resumes flying to Israel. “Globes” discovered connection flights in February to New York through Warsaw, with a wait of 1 hour and 55 minutes within the Polish capital, for $619 return, about half of the $1,200-1,300 for an El Al Tel Aviv-New York return ticket in economic system class. On some dates in February, El Al’s economic system class tickets to New York are already offered out.
On lengthy haul flights to the east, Israel has been served effectively by UAE carriers. Etihad Airways is about to extend its variety of weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi from 10 to 19 and with six weekly flights operated by flyDubai, there will likely be 25 flights per week between Israel and the UAE, a serious hub for flights to Asia and Oceania. “Globes” discovered a connection flight in February from Tel Aviv to Bangkok on Etihad with a 5 hour connection wait in Abu Dhabi on the way in which there, and two hours on the return leg for simply $782, whereas El Al’s tickets for Tel Aviv – Bangkok flights begin at $1,300.
In fact connection flights are way more inconvenient than direct flights. They add vital quantities of time to the journey and might develop into burdensome if the primary flight is delayed and the second flight missed – particularly if the second flight is with a unique airline. Furthermore, reserving with international airways has the chance that the safety state of affairs will all of the sudden escalate and flights will likely be canceled, whereas El Al and different Israeli airways have offered a dependable schedule all through the struggle.
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Extending cancelations
There was a reminder of this fragility earlier this week when flights had been briefly halted at Ben Gurion airport because the IDF efficiently intercepted a missile fired at Israel by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Following the incident Air France prolonged its suspension of Israel flights till January 9. Regardless of the ceasefire Lufthansa Group, together with Swiss, Austrian Airways, Brussels Airways and Eurowings, in addition to Italian provider ITA, have prolonged their suspensions till the tip of January 2025. KLM, Iberia and Air India will not be returning till at the very least March, and Croatia Airways will not be again at Ben Gurion till at the very least Could.
Of the US carriers American Airways and United Airways have stated they won’t be resuming flights to Israel till additional discover however Delta Airways is because of recommence flights to Ben Gurion airport in April 2025.
Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on December 18, 2024.
© Copyright of Globes Writer Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.
