EL AL Israel Airlines Starts New Regular Flights to Fort Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE- Following a tense but unsuccessful missile attack by Iran on Israel over the weekend, an El Al Airlines (LY) Boeing 787 landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Florida on Monday (April 15, 2024), marking the commencement of long-awaited regularly scheduled air service between Broward County and Israel.
In a ceremony attended by Israel’s consul general from Miami, airline executives, and county officials, the arrival of the plane, named after the northern district city of Nof Hagalil, was celebrated, complete with a fire rescue salute.
EL AL Fort Lauderdale Flight
The wide-bodied jetliner, carrying an estimated 240 passengers, arrived at Terminal 4 at 4:29 p.m., where most international flights operate. El Al had been using this terminal for seasonal trips to Tel Aviv, coinciding with major Jewish holidays since last fall.
The return flight to Israel was scheduled for departure at 6:30 p.m.
Concerns arose late last week about the viability of El Al’s new twice-weekly service, as Iran threatened retaliation against Israel following the missile strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of three high-ranking Iranian military officials.
On Saturday (April 13, 2024), Iran followed through on its threats, launching over 300 missiles and drones toward Israel, most of which were intercepted by air defenses.
By the early hours of Sunday, Israel had reopened its airspace, and the national airport authority had resumed operations at Ben Gurion International Airport, which serves as the final destination for most flights arriving from overseas.
According to American diplomatic authorities, travelers bound for Israel have long been aware that their destination is situated in a geopolitically sensitive area characterized by military activities, terrorism, and civil unrest, posing potential risks.
Travel Advisory for Israel
Last week, the U.S. State Department issued updated travel advisories for the region, advising individuals to “Reconsider Travel” to Israel and the West Bank due to concerns about “terrorism and civil unrest.” The advisory for Gaza remained at “Do Not Travel,” citing risks associated with “terrorism and armed conflict.”
However, during the ceremony, officials and Jewish religious leaders collectively praised the airline as a unifying force for a country and its people in challenging times. Senior El Al officials expressed confidence in the new Fort Lauderdale service, emphasizing that it was never in doubt.
Simon Newton-Smith, Senior Vice President for The Americas, informed reporters that the Fort Lauderdale flight and all other outbound El Al flights departed from Israel over the weekend as scheduled despite the recent aerial attacks.
“This was always on track, even as late as this weekend,” Newton-Smith stated.
“Despite concerns raised due to the events in Israel on Saturday evening, this reflects Israeli determination. The plan and date were set, and the team remained committed to delivering the flight on April 15th.”
He further emphasized,
“El Al has essentially become a lifeline, not just an airline. It’s significant. With a Jewish community of 230,000 in South Florida, the fourth largest outside Israel, anything happening in Israel significantly impacts this community and vice versa. An airline serves to connect people.”
Newton-Smith acknowledged that the atmosphere among travelers to and from Israel and within the travel community is currently “somber.”
“I believe this mood stems from the strong connections between the communities here,” he remarked. “There’s undoubtedly a lot of apprehension. The community here has relatives and friends in Israel whom everyone worries about, and vice versa.”
“It’s evidently a challenging period for everyone,” Newton-Smith continued.
“There’s hardly anyone who isn’t affected by this situation somehow. Nevertheless, amidst this uncertainty, facilitating connections between people and families through air service remains crucial. That’s why we’re committed to what we do.”
Cautioned by the Consul General of Israel in Miami
Simultaneously, Maor Elbaz-Starinski, the consul general of Israel in Miami, cautioned about challenging times ahead concerning Iran.
“When asked if Iran’s actions were merely about saving face, I want to emphasize that we shouldn’t be misled,” he informed reporters. “We are well aware of the nature of the Iranian regime. What we’ve witnessed is exactly what we’ve cautioned against for decades. Iran is actively developing ballistic missiles, sponsoring terrorism, and pursuing nuclear weapons.”
Elbaz-Starinski issued a warning that these capabilities will inevitably be directed against Israel and other nations in the future.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.
Discover more from reviewer4you.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
