El Al Flight Delays: What Travelers Should Know

Planning a trip to Israel? Here’s a travel situation worth knowing about. An El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles recently experienced significant delays due to technical issues, creating a domino effect that left passengers spending an unexpected Shabbat in LA.

The delay meant the return flight couldn’t make it back to Israel before Shabbat began – and as Israel’s national carrier, El Al doesn’t operate flights during Shabbat hours (Friday evening to Saturday evening). This is something international travelers should factor into their booking decisions.

The airline is taking care of affected passengers, providing accommodation and rebooking services. While these situations are rare, they highlight why travel insurance and flexible bookings can be smart investments when flying to Israel.

If you’re booking with El Al for your Israel adventure, consider their Shabbat schedule when planning tight connections or important events. Alternative carriers like United, Delta, and Lufthansa operate different schedules if you need more flexibility around weekends.