El Al CEO: "We'll reserve seats for the high-tech sector on selected destinations"

"El Al is attentive to the plight of the high-tech industry and is committed to helping. Despite the severe shortage of seats for all destinations, we are in contact with company representatives and are formulating solutions to reserve seats for selected destinations. A special business team will address the needs of these companies," said El Al CEO Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia at the Calcalist and Bank Leumi conference in Miami.

She also addressed public criticism of El Al. "Since the start of the war, all at once, foreign airlines stopped flying to Israel and have not returned. This has been going on for more than a year—something unprecedented in the country’s history. In such a situation, it’s impossible for one airline, no matter how capable, to meet all the demand while managing the severe shortage of seats, which also affects prices," she said.

"I understand the public's frustrations and their critical view of El Al, but the facts paint a different picture. We are doing everything possible to provide as many seats as we can, particularly on popular routes to North America and the East. Additionally, we operate flights to major international aviation hubs like Cyprus, Greece, Vienna, and Dubai at fixed prices to offer passengers alternative options and help reduce costs. However, it’s important to recognize that the global aviation industry has been disrupted since the pandemic in 2020, and high prices are a worldwide phenomenon," she explained.

Ben-Tal Ganancia also shed light on the reasons why foreign airlines have not resumed flights to Israel. "The primary reason is the stance of their workers and unions. Many workers are unwilling to stay overnight in Israel, which is perceived as a war zone. Furthermore, insurance companies are often hesitant to insure flights to Israel, which is a significant factor. Addressing this situation requires action at a political and strategic level. The state needs to implement solutions that give foreign airlines the confidence to return. For our part, we are ready to cooperate and provide all the necessary information to facilitate this."

She highlighted El Al’s role in managing complex rescue operations, such as the recent evacuation of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Amsterdam after violent attacks earlier this month. "These rescue flights, including those conducted on Shabbat—a day when El Al does not typically operate—require us to act like an army. We have a dedicated war room to manage these operations, which are highly complex and require significant schedule adjustments. In fact, it takes up to 12 days to fully resynchronize our flight schedule afterward. Despite the challenges, we are well-trained to handle such dynamic and demanding situations," she said.

Ben-Tal Ganancia also shared a poignant moment when one of the abductees recently returned from captivity in Gaza and met with El Al employees, sharing her brave and harrowing story. She expressed hope for the safe return of all abductees to their homes soon.

To hear her full remarks, click on the video above.