El Al

ICAO: ELY Active as of Dec 10, 2025

112

Active Routes

1677

Flight Observations

55

Unique Destinations

57

Origin Airports

2061

Avg Route Distance (mi)

7674

Longest Route (mi)

4

Domestic Routes

96

International Routes
About El Al

El Al Israel Airlines (ICAO: ELY) is the national flag carrier of Israel, known for its unique operational characteristics and stringent security measures.

El Al Israel Airlines was officially founded in November 1948, the same year the State of Israel was established. Its origins are deeply intertwined with the nation's need for an independent air bridge to connect with the rest of the world, initially facilitating the transport of Jewish immigrants and supplies. The airline's inaugural scheduled flights commenced in July 1949, connecting Tel Aviv with Rome and Paris. Throughout its history, El Al has played a crucial role in humanitarian efforts, including airlifting Jewish immigrants to Israel.

The airline's primary operational base and main hub is Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv, Israel. While it previously maintained secondary hubs at Eilat Airport (ETH) and Ovda Airport (VDA), El Al is now concentrating its Florida operations at Miami International Airport (MIA), positioning it as a key international hub.

El Al operates an all-Boeing fleet, comprising a mix of widebody and narrowbody jets. The current fleet includes Boeing 787 Dreamliners (787-8 and 787-9 variants), Boeing 777-200ERs, Boeing 737-800s, and Boeing 737-900ERs. Its route network is extensive, covering approximately 51 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, offering both short-haul and long-haul services.

El Al is not a member of any major airline alliance such as Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld. However, it has established codeshare agreements with several airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Aeromexico, to expand its reach. There is a potential for El Al to join the SkyTeam alliance with support from Delta Air Lines, following a strategic cooperation agreement between the two carriers. Notable services include the provision of Kosher meals on all flights, and its cabin classes generally consist of Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class on widebody aircraft, while narrowbody planes offer Business and Economy.

What Travelers Say

Traveler reviews for El Al Israel Airlines reflect a mixed sentiment, highlighting both strong positive aspects and recurring areas of concern.

What Travelers Love:

  • Cabin Crew: Many passengers commend the cabin crew for being professional, attentive, friendly, and very helpful, especially in accommodating specific needs.
  • In-flight meals: El Al is recognized for offering excellent Kosher culinary delights, which are often highly valued by travelers.
  • Security Measures: The airline's stringent security protocols are widely appreciated, contributing to a strong sense of safety and security among passengers.
  • Overall Service Improvement: Some recent reviews indicate an improvement in the overall flight experience, with flights departing on time and good food.

Common Complaints:

  • Customer Service: This is a frequent area of dissatisfaction, with numerous reports of unresponsiveness, extremely long wait times, difficulties contacting representatives via various platforms, and issues with refunds or changing flights.
  • Cramped Seating/Outdated In-flight Entertainment: Especially on longer flights or older aircraft, passengers have reported cramped seating and outdated or limited in-flight entertainment systems, making journeys feel longer and less comfortable.
  • Check-in and Boarding Process: The check-in process has been described as chaotic and time-consuming, with some complaints about intrusive security questioning or issues with family seating arrangements, particularly when traveling with infants.
  • Flight Cancellations/Changes: There are complaints regarding flight cancellations without adequate prior notice or compensation, and difficulties in modifying bookings.

Overall, traveler sentiment suggests that while El Al excels in certain aspects like cabin crew service and its distinct security approach, the airline often struggles with consistent customer service and providing a modern, comfortable experience across its entire fleet, leading to significant frustration among a segment of its passengers.

Safety Information

El Al Israel Airlines maintains a strong and highly regarded safety and security reputation globally. The airline is known for its stringent security measures, which are considered some of the most effective in the industry.

Its recent safety record is relatively flawless, with no serious incidents reported in recent years. Historically, El Al has experienced a few notable incidents. One was the successful hijacking of El Al Flight 426 in 1968, which was diverted to Algiers. Another significant event was the 1992 crash of El Al Flight 1862, a Boeing 747 freighter, due to engine separation after takeoff from Amsterdam, which resulted in fatalities on board and on the ground. More recent minor incidents include reports of tyre damage, steering failure, a burst tyre on landing, and bird strikes.

Regarding regulatory certifications, while specific listings for IOSA or FAA compliance were not explicitly found in the search results, El Al is consistently highlighted for its high safety standards and compliance. The airline's commitment to security includes operating aircraft equipped with anti-ballistic missile technology and employing air marshals on every flight.

El Al operates an all-Boeing fleet, which it continually updates. The airline aims to maintain a modern and efficient fleet to ensure safety and reliability. While some older Boeing 737-800s and 777-200ERs have average ages of around 17-18 years, the newer Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is significantly younger, with average ages of 1.6 to 2.9 years for the 787-8s and 787-9s as of late 2021. The airline plans to expand its 787 and 737 fleets by 2028. Its exclusive use of Boeing aircraft may contribute to operational efficiencies in maintenance and training.

Based on available data, the overall safety assessment for El Al Israel Airlines is very positive. It is frequently ranked among the world's safest airlines due to its exceptional security protocols and generally good safety record. While specific safety awards or recognitions were not explicitly detailed in the provided search results, the airline's reputation for robust security and consistent safety performance is widely acknowledged.

Content generated by AI based on web research • Updated 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
BUS → TLV
Batumi International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
761 miles
86 flights
B738
LCA → TLV
Larnaca International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
211 miles
69 flights
UNKNOWN
TBS → TLV
Tbilisi International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
869 miles
63 flights
UNKNOWN
TLV → JFK
Ben Gurion International Airport → John F Kennedy Intl
5743 miles
58 flights
B788
TLV → BKK
Ben Gurion International Airport → Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
4321 miles
54 flights
777
LGG → TLV
Liège Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
1976 miles
49 flights
A30B
45 flights
B738
42 flights
B738
TIV → TLV
Tivat Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
1141 miles
38 flights
UNKNOWN
TLV → EWR
Ben Gurion International Airport → Newark Liberty Intl
5758 miles
37 flights
B789
Top Destinations
TLV (LLBG)
Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
905 flights
56 routes
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy Intl
New York
58 flights
1 route
BKK (VTBS)
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
54 flights
1 route
LTN (EGGW)
London Luton
London
45 flights
1 route
EWR (KEWR)
Newark Liberty Intl
Newark
37 flights
1 route
AMS (EHAM)
Amsterdam Schiphol
Amsterdam
35 flights
1 route
CDG (LFPG)
Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
Paris
35 flights
1 route
LAX (KLAX)
Los Angeles Intl
Los Angeles
29 flights
1 route
FRA (EDDF)
Frankfurt Int'l
Frankfurt am Main
26 flights
3 routes
DXB (OMDB)
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
24 flights
1 route
Top Origin Airports
TLV (LLBG)
Ben Gurion International Airport
Tel Aviv
758 flights
54 routes
BUS (UGSB)
Batumi International Airport
Batumi
86 flights
1 route
LCA (LCLK)
Larnaca International Airport
Larnaca
69 flights
1 route
TBS (UGTB)
Tbilisi International Airport
Tbilisi
63 flights
1 route
LGG (EBLG)
Liège Airport
Grâce-Hollogne
61 flights
2 routes
BUD (LHBP)
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport
Budapest
42 flights
1 route
TIV (LYTV)
Tivat Airport
Tivat
38 flights
1 route
CDG (LFPG)
Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise)
34 flights
1 route
OTP (LROP)
Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport
Otopeni
33 flights
1 route
ATH (LGAV)
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
Spata-Artemida
33 flights
1 route
Top Border Crossing Flights
TLV (LLBG)
Ben Gurion International Airport
Tel Aviv, IL
905 flights
56 routes
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy International Airport
New York, US
58 flights
1 route
BKK (VTBS)
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Bangkok, TH
54 flights
1 route
LTN (EGGW)
London Luton Airport
London, GB
45 flights
1 route
EWR (KEWR)
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark, US
37 flights
1 route
AMS (EHAM)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Amsterdam, NL
35 flights
1 route
CDG (LFPG)
Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Paris, FR
35 flights
1 route
LAX (KLAX)
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, US
29 flights
1 route
Longest Routes
TLV → LAX
Ben Gurion International Airport → Los Angeles Intl
7674 mi
LAX → TLV
Los Angeles International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
7568 mi
FLL → TLV
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
6720 mi
MIA → TLV
Miami International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
6629 mi
TLV → MIA
Ben Gurion International Airport → Miami Intl
6627 mi
Shortest Routes
LGG → FRA
Liège Airport → Frankfurt Int'l
143 mi
ETM → TLV
Ramon International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
158 mi
TLV → ETM
Ben Gurion International Airport → Ramon Airport
158 mi
LCA → TLV
Larnaca International Airport → Ben Gurion Int'l
211 mi
TLV → LCA
Ben Gurion International Airport → Larnaca Int'l
211 mi
All Routes
112 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
BUS → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
86 761 mi B738 Dec 10, 2025
LCA → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
69 211 mi UNKNOWN Dec 10, 2025
TBS → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
63 869 mi UNKNOWN Dec 10, 2025
TLV → JFK John F Kennedy Intl
New York
58 5743 mi B788 Dec 10, 2025
TLV → BKK Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
54 4321 mi 777 Dec 10, 2025
LGG → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
49 1976 mi A30B Dec 10, 2025
TLV → LTN London Luton
London
45 2240 mi B738 Dec 10, 2025
BUD → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
42 1347 mi B738 Dec 10, 2025
TIV → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
38 1141 mi UNKNOWN Dec 10, 2025
TLV → EWR Newark Liberty Intl
Newark
37 5758 mi B789 Dec 10, 2025
TLV → AMS Amsterdam Schiphol
Amsterdam
35 2060 mi B739 Dec 8, 2025
TLV → CDG Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
Paris
35 2043 mi B739 Dec 10, 2025
CDG → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
34 2043 mi B772 Dec 7, 2025
ATH → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
33 742 mi 73F Nov 29, 2025
OTP → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
33 990 mi B739 Dec 10, 2025
MXP → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
30 1683 mi B738 Dec 2, 2025
SKG → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
29 886 mi UNKNOWN Oct 26, 2025
TLV → LAX Los Angeles Intl
Los Angeles
29 7674 mi B789 Dec 1, 2025
FRA → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
28 1837 mi 73F Oct 15, 2025
ETM → TLV Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
28 158 mi B738 Dec 9, 2025
TLV → DXB Dubai Int'l
Dubai
24 1326 mi 787 Dec 10, 2025
TLV → ATH Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
23 742 mi 73F Nov 30, 2025
TLV → MAD Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas
Madrid
21 2204 mi B739 Dec 8, 2025
TLV → LCA Larnaca Int'l
Larnaca
20 211 mi B738 Nov 30, 2025
TLV → FCO Leonardo da Vinci Int'l (Fiumicino Int'l)
Rome
20 1417 mi B739 Dec 8, 2025
Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Dec 10, 2025 21:06
Coverage: Observed routes only