EL AI has cancelled one of its flights on the London-Tel Aviv route for the next three months. The airline’s Saturday evening departure from London Heathrow has now been removed from the schedule until August for Shabbat observance.
El Al does not operate any flights during Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, which begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.
“Due to the change in the times when Shabbat ends with the transition to summer hours, and due to the restrictions on departures from Heathrow Airport, we have had to make adjustments to the flight schedule. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers as a result of this change,” the airline said in a statement.
The move will affect 12 flights over the coming months, with the airline's schedule showing that the Saturday evening departure from London Heathrow is due to recommence on August 12th. Until then, passengers booked on the service have been offered a full refund or a change to another flight.
El Al will now fly up to 12 times per week between Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) and London Heathrow Terminal 4 on the airline's widebody Boeing 787 aircraft.
El Al will commence flights connecting its hub at Ben Gurion International Airport to Fort Lauderdale on September 13, on its Boeing 787-8 aircraft complimenting its existing six-weekly service to Miami (MIA).