EL AL Prepares Limited Outbound Flight Operations Amid Wartime Restrictions

By: Ariella Haviv

In a cautiously executed move that signals a partial easing of wartime air travel restrictions, Israel’s national carrier EL AL Airlines announced Sunday evening that it is preparing to resume outbound international flights starting Monday, pending final government approval. The announcement follows weeks of grounded air traffic and closed airspace following the eruption of hostilities with Iran and subsequent missile threats that paralyzed much of the country’s civil aviation infrastructure.

As of Sunday night, more than 25,000 outbound flight request forms had been submitted through EL AL’s official website since registration reopened on Saturday, underscoring the intense demand among Israelis, foreign nationals, and humanitarian travelers seeking exit options. EL AL confirmed that passengers selected for the initial wave of flights will begin receiving assignment notifications “in the coming hours.”

The reinstated flight schedule will remain highly constrained and subject to a stringent government-approved framework, with no more than 50 passengers permitted per flight under current defense and civil aviation protocols. Furthermore, all outbound passengers must commit to a mandatory 21-day minimum stay abroad, with no return to Israel permitted within that period, regardless of travel class or destination.

According to the plan reviewed and approved by Israeli authorities, EL AL will operate from Ben Gurion International Airport to eight international destinations deemed critical for diaspora connectivity, medical access, and diplomatic mobility: They include, Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Bangkok.

The chosen cities serve as strategic air corridors for onward connections and house significant Israeli expatriate or consular presences. As stated by EL AL, the outbound operations will be coordinated in cooperation with relevant embassies, defense entities, and airport authorities to ensure smooth processing and heightened security compliance.

In an effort to maintain fairness and affordability under extraordinary conditions, EL AL has issued a special fare structure for one-way flights on this limited-service schedule. The fixed economy-class fares, which apply to all new ticket holders outside the rebooking window, are as follows: Larnaca: $99, Athens: $149, Rome, Paris, London: $299, New York, Los Angeles: $795, Bangkok: $695.

As EL AL clarified, passengers on previously canceled EL AL or Sundor flights scheduled between June 13 and June 30, 2025, will be reassigned to new flights without incurring additional fees, provided the replacement route falls within the same geographic zone—Europe, North America, or the Far East.

Priority for seat allocation is expected to be given to travelers in medical, humanitarian, or diplomatic categories, followed by stranded Israeli citizens, foreign nationals, and individuals with urgent professional or family obligations abroad.

Despite the symbolic significance of EL AL’s operational restart, the scope of the carrier’s capability remains deeply limited. A senior official with the Civil Aviation Authority, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that Israel’s defense posture continues to restrict the frequency and scale of takeoffs due to airspace security concerns and possible retaliatory missile fire from Iranian proxies.

As such, the airline’s staff and crew must coordinate each scheduled flight with defense officials, adhere to real-time updates from Iron Dome coverage, and integrate contingency rerouting plans should threats escalate mid-operation.

“The resumption of outbound flights is not a return to normalcy,” an EL AL spokesperson emphasized. “It is a controlled and cautious humanitarian and logistical response to overwhelming demand, in full coordination with security and health authorities.”

EL AL’s announcement arrives amid a broader geopolitical crisis, in which Israeli military action in Gaza and ongoing confrontations with Iran have diverted attention from civilian affairs. As The New York Times recently reported, Israel’s international airport has functioned largely as a military and diplomatic facility in recent weeks, with most commercial traffic suspended since June 13.

The gradual reactivation of outbound travel, even in limited form, provides critical relief for dual citizens, diplomats, and families needing to reunite or relocate. However, the airline’s 21-day minimum-stay restriction also reveals the state’s reluctance to permit short-term movement, likely aimed at preventing cycles of re-entry that could complicate emergency operations or air defense strategy.

While inbound flights remain suspended and no return dates have been scheduled, officials have hinted that further loosening of restrictions will depend on regional security trends and the success of the current outbound flight phase. EL AL has advised travelers to monitor its website and mobile platforms for real-time updates, and to avoid contacting call centers unless they receive official notification of flight assignment.

For now, as tens of thousands await confirmation and Israeli skies remain guarded, the symbolic weight of Monday’s limited departures is not lost on the public. As EL AL aircraft begin to taxi out of Ben Gurion once more, they carry not only passengers, but the first rays of movement in a nation suspended between war and the yearning for normal flight.