EL AL Airlines Launches Direct Ft. Lauderdale flight

EL AL Israel Airlines launched its first flight with its 787 Dreamliner aircraft from Ft. Lauderdale to Tel Aviv this week. The first flight launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Ft. Lauderdale Airport.

The new, nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport and Tel Aviv brings El Al’s weekly South Florida schedule to seven flights, just in time for Passover and the busy summer season.

“In response to increased demand, EL AL is expanding its US operations and flight schedules. EL AL exists to keep the community connected and when all other airlines stopped flying to Israel, EL AL turned from airline to lifeline.” said Simon Newton-Smith, EL AL Senior Vice President of the Americas. “Because Broward County is home to a strong Jewish community of 230,000 people, FLL was a natural choice for EL AL. Both Miami and Fort Lauderdale offer passengers access to many domestic and international connections, especially with our codeshare partners Delta Air Lines and JetBlue,” concluded Newton-Smith.

Starting this week, EL AL will operate seven weekly flights between South Florida and Israel, including flights from Miami to Tel Aviv.

Maor Elbaz-StarinskyIsrael’s Consul General in Miami said: “The new EL AL Airlines Fort Lauderdale-Tel Aviv flights build on the strong ties between Broward County, Florida and Israel! The two sun-kissed states will be looking for more ways to further expand the already vibrant political, commercial, cultural and tourism ties. It is only natural that the two most innovative and diverse states have such deep ties in their respective regions. Especially since South Florida is home to the four largest Jewish populations in the world.”

Rabbi Yossi Rappdirector of Chabad on Air, spoke at the event, noting that El Al has been a lifeline for many during this time of war, and has been a great support to IDF soldiers who need to fly for medical assistance, as well as to hostage families. as for regular passengers, allowing them to continue flying to Israel while many other airlines have suspended their flights to Israel.

He also inaugurated the new Chabad on Air Tefillin booth at the Fort Lauderdale Airport and was on hand to apply Mezuzahs to El Al’s staff offices in the Ft. Lauderdale airport too.

Also present were Broward officials from Mark Galethe airport president and CEO, County Administrator Monica CeperoCommissioner Mark Bogenwho said he has been a customer of El Al since 2019, and Stacy Ritterpresident and CEO of Visit Lauderdale – all pledged to support the airline and its newly inaugurated service.