In a strategic move to address mounting criticism over soaring airfares, El Al, Israel's flag carrier, has announced a new fixed-price initiative for flights to four key destinations. The decision, revealed during a meeting with Economy Minister Nir Barkat, comes on the heels of the airline's record-breaking quarterly performance.
Fixed-Price Destinations
El Al will offer set fares for round-trip flights to the following hubs through the end of 2024:
- Larnaca, Cyprus: $199
- Athens, Greece: $299
- Vienna, Austria: $349
- Dubai, UAE: $349
These prices apply to all available economy class seats, with El Al planning to allocate approximately 80,000 seats at these rates during the specified period.
Strategic Response to Market Pressures
The airline's decision is a direct response to recent backlash over increasing flight costs. El Al emphasizes that since the outbreak of war and particularly since early August, it has been working diligently to assist travelers affected by cancellations and to maintain open air routes to and from Israel.
Dina Ben Tal Ganancia, CEO of El Al, stated, "We are continuing to work on increasing the number of available seats and expanding our flight schedule. This initiative will allow us to offer tens of thousands of seats at affordable and fixed prices, providing extensive service to key hubs that connect to different continents."
Government Support
The initiative has garnered support from key government officials, including Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and the Ministry of Finance.
Enhanced Connectivity
El Al highlighted that the chosen destinations serve as major international hubs, offering extensive connectivity options:
- Larnaca: Approximately 1,000 international flights per week
- Athens: About 2,500 weekly international connections
- Vienna: Around 4,000 weekly international flights
- Dubai: Approximately 8,500 weekly international connections
This strategic selection aims to provide Israeli travelers with broader access to hundreds of global destinations.
Additional Measures
In addition to the fixed-price initiative, El Al has implemented several other measures to address current market challenges:
1. Increased flight frequency to key destinations like Athens and Larnaca
2. Reduced prices on routes with available seats through September
3. More flexible cancellation policies adapted to the current situation
As demand is expected to surge, El Al plans to increase the frequency of flights to these destinations. The airline has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining crucial air links for Israel and adapting its services to meet the evolving needs of Israeli travelers.
* Channel 12 contributed to this article.
