El Al readies non-stop flights to Melbourne
The Israeli flag-carrier will trial direct flights between Tel Aviv and Melbourne across April and May 2020.
By David Flynn, March 4 2020
Israel's El Al is gearing up for the launch of direct flights between Tel Aviv and Melbourne next month, with three initial ‘trial’ flights across April and May 2020 holding out the promise of a regular service later in the year.
At an average of 17 hours (16h15m for flight LY87 from Tel Aviv, 17h45m for LY88 from Melbourne), this will be the longest route in El Al’s network and rank alongside other non-stop marathons such as Qantas’ epic Perth-London trek.
The three Boeing 787-9 flights will depart Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on April 2, April 23 and May 14, with returns from Melbourne on April 4, April 25 and May 16, and will be used to assess the route’s longer-term viability as the first direct link between Israel and Australia.
El Al's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will pioneer the non-stop route between Tel Aviv and Melbourne.
Testing the waters
“The trial consists of two major elements,” says Yoav Weiss, El Al’s regional direct for Asia, Oceania and South Africa.
“The first is the commercial one, whether there will be demand and whether people would be willing to pay a premium for flying non-stop.”
“The Australian market is a very good market for Israel, there is a very big Jewish and Israeli community in both Sydney and Melbourne,” Weiss tells Executive Traveller.
“We have have a lot of business coming from Australia, flying with Qantas via Bangkok or Hong Kong, and also via Johannesburg. But it wasn’t until we received our brand new Boeing 787 that we could consider a non-stop operation to make it all the way ‘down under’. This idea was going around for a while, and we decided to give it a try.”
El Al's non-stop test flights to Melbourne will span an average of 17 hours.
This opens up the second role of these three special flights, “an operational trial, to see if planning of the flying routes is possible to execute in real time, what will be the fuel consumption, what will be the load consumption and so on,” Weiss explains.
“So in that respect, the operational trial is maybe the most important part of this trial, and alongside with the commercial part these three flights should give us a good picture of that aspect.”
Strong demand
While allowing that these three non-stop flights hold unique appeal to travellers, Weiss reports that bookings are very strong, especially with pricing that’s competitive against the one-stop alternatives. At the time of writing, business class seats remained available at around $5,300 return.
“The first two flights are rather filled up, we are now focusing on the last one and what we see in the last couple of weeks is (people are) now trying to prevent connecting via Asia – the demand for this flight is actually going up, unlike the trends to other destinations.”
El Al's Boeing 787-9 business class cabin offers comfortable and private 1-2-1 seating.
El Al will fly its Boeing 787-9 with a full load of 288 passengers from Tel Aviv, but trim the numbers by almost one-third in order to make the return leg, which is rated at an extra 90 minutes flying time and battles headwinds rather than enjoying a tailwind boost on the inbound leg.
“From Israel to Australia, we can fly at full capacity (but) on the way back from Australia, we are limited to about 200 passengers,” Weiss tells Executive Traveller. "Business and premium we will fully sell, and economy will basically be like an upgraded product since the middle seats will be most probably vacant.”
From trials to scheduled flights
After the last of the three Melbourne trial flights returns to Tel Aviv in mid-May, Weiss says work will begin on assessing if there’s scope for it to become a more regular fixture on El Al’s timetable.
“We have working groups on the commercial side and the operational side, and one group that covers everything together. We will sit down in June to discuss the results of those flights and to try to build some economic model, based on the performance of those three flights.”
“Then we will test the result, see where we did well, where we can improve, and if there is a potential to turn it into a scheduled operation.”
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
Weiss says that while most of El Al’s Melbourne-based passengers on the three test flights will end their journey at Tel Aviv, an on-going scheduled service would realise the city’s role as a connecting hub to the rest of Europe.
“El Al offers many, many destinations in Europe, most of them on a double daily basis, and Ben Gurion Airport has a very smooth connecting process.”
A viral shadow
However, Weiss admits that the ever-present shadow of the coronavirus could still see El Al suspend its Melbourne trial flights.
“It’s getting crazy,” he admits. “These days we can’t plan more than ten days ahead. Whatever we try to plan mid-term and long-term it turns out to be very difficult these days, but at the moment we have no discussions of postponing our flights to Australia.”
El Al’s newest route from Tel Aviv to Tokyo, due to launch on March 11, has already been put on ice.
“Next week we were about to launch the first non-stop flight from Tel Aviv to Tokyo, and unfortunately we had to postpone the launch of those flights. This was a very promising market that we were looking at for a few years. But we are certain that once things will calm down, we will be able to launch this route and it will be very successful for us.”
In it for the ultra-long haul
Tokyo will be flown by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which has become a long-range game-changer for El Al, with the last of 16 deliveries due later this month, Weiss says.
“The Boeing 787 is opening new opportunities for us to add more destinations. We were very active this year in North America, we started to fly to San Francisco and Las Vegas, and this month we're starting non-stop flights to Chicago. So most of the growth is going to North America, but also we are looking for other markets as well.”
Inside El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner
London-based design firm PriestmanGoode helped shape El Al's Dreamliners with new seats and cabins, along with an updated livery to better reflect the airline's flag-carrier status.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
The 'Business First' cabin features 32 seats with direct aisle access, and follows a staggered 1-2-1 layout which is similar to that of United Airlines' latest Polaris product.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
Each seat is 21" wide, and combines a clear sense of well-appointed personal space with handy shelves and stowage nooks.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
The seats transform into a 78" fully-flat bed, with plenty of movies and TV shows piped through to the 16" HD video screen.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
The business class cabin itself is finished in rich tones of champagne, chocolate and wood.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class.
Behind this are 28 premium economy seats – a first for El Al – in a 2-3-2 arrangement of 38" pitch. The seats themselves are 19.4" wide, with 13" screens and a personal storage recess on the back of each seat.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner premium economy class.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner premium economy class.
The 222 standard economy seats (30-31" pitch, 17" width) include 12" screens plus AC and USB charging sockets.
El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner economy class.
This video from El Al showcases its Boeing 787 'Business First' experience.
While El Al doesn't belong to any of the major three airline alliances, its position as a Qantas partner means that El Al flights can be booked using Qantas Points; El Al flights booked under a QF codeshare will earn a full serve of Qantas Points and status credits.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 334
Will Qantas Code Share as they are partners
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 889
It's a good question but I assume QF's partners in Dubai may have a strong opinion on this. Qantas currently connect to LY in Bangkok but I don't believe they codeshare.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 334
Yes QF does Code on the BKK - TLV flights. I believe is QF5021.
The TLV - BKK code is QF5020
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 430
What EK thinks will be irrelevant. QF already codeshares on LY BKK-TLV so codesharing MEL-TLV would not be an impediment.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
28 Jun 2019
Total posts 78
Considering the UAE likes to pretend Israel doesn't exist, technically they shouldn't have an opinion at all, because it doesn't exist, right?
03 May 2013
Total posts 584
Flying kangaroo- if you were reading between the lines of late you'd have noticed the UAE, Bahrain and KSA cosying right up to Israel because of their mutual Iranian foe.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 430
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 273
Wonder what the routing will be? It's tricky as they don't fly over ‘enemy' territory.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 889
They have relations with Egypt so they will probably overfly Egypt and then track down the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. This is the same routing their Indian flights use.
I assume flight will be severely load restricted westbound.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 273
Yes maybe, I've flown them from Thailand and I think it was a similar route along the Red Sea.
29 Nov 2019
Total posts 4
there's talk underway that the Saudi's will allow El Al to route over the kingdom, Air India already routes over Saudi to TLV. Still many hostile territory will need to be avoided. Reason El Al does not fly to Singapore, and SQ does not fly to TLV is because there's some serious airspace maneuvers required around Malay airspace. They won't hear of it.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 438
I have to ask: why load restricted westbound? Is there a jet stream involved there also?
29 Nov 2019
Total posts 1
Saudi allows AI 139/140 Delhi Tel Aviv to fly right our its kingdom (dont understand the logic) but
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Nov 2018
Total posts 83
Wow certainly didn't expect this... I wonder if it will work.
QF - Red
23 Nov 2012
Total posts 35
This. Is. Epic.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 63
Fantastic! Another way to London and Europe hopefully, depending on timings!
06 Jun 2017
Total posts 43
Will be trying this out, always wanted to see Tel Aviv. Could do a 1 week trip to Tel Aviv and Cairo!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 430
You'll need more than 1 week to see Israel and Egypt!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 31
And should definitely include Jordan....it's at least a 2 week trip, but well worth every minute
03 May 2013
Total posts 584
I was told ELAl were allowed to fly here many years ago but their insistence on Mosad and their own security doing checks was refused by Australian Government. Get ready for interrogation before and after check-in. I've heard the product is very average. Their lounge in TLV is horrible. Hope it works nonetheless easier for families and businessmen.
29 Nov 2019
Total posts 4
You heard ? I beg to differ, been there several times. Their biz class lounge in TLV is huge, on 2 levels, food I plentiful, 24 hours, Carmel Forest Spa massages & treatments available, the list goes on. Go see for yourself instead.
03 May 2013
Total posts 584
Please read a little more carefully; I flew BA in and out to avoid the interrogations by flying EL AL on advice from Israeli colleagues - hence "I heard".
The lounge however I did visit nothing special average and overcrowded - hence "is". I will admit the 787 does look promising.
15 Sep 2012
Total posts 92
I recently saw a photo on Facebook of departure board at Melbourne Tullamarine in early 70s that showed a flight going to Tel Aviv. Wasn't Qantas but can't remember who. Anybody know?
29 Nov 2019
Total posts 4
You're right. in the '70's Air France and Alitalia, both routed via TLV to Asia and Australia. AF routed via TLV-Teheran (prior Khomeini)-Bombay-Bangkok-Sydney-Melboure and Alitalia had a similar routing but via Hong Kong I believe.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 31
Air France have never flown to Australia. Back in the 60's and 70's, TAI originally flew and then when they amalgamated with UAT, the airline became UTA. They flew to Paris via Teheran but not TelvAviv.
29 Nov 2019
Total posts 4
You may be right, maybe they did not fly all the way to Australia, but AF and AZ definitely flew via TLV to Teheran (prior to the ayatollah coup) and then onto Bombay, Hong Kong or other. PS. Even El AL flew to Teheran in those days.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 31
Are you sure? A flight from Melbourne to Tel Aviv? I recall in those days most Israel bound passengers transferred in Athens for Tel Aviv. Lufthansa carried a lot of passengers to Athens from Melbourne and Sydney who were transiting to Tel Aviv.
25 Oct 2017
Total posts 63
If you thought security for US airlines was intense.
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 43
Have to agree. Recently flew CX HKG-TLV and security onto the plane was above average but security into Israel at TLV seemed relatively relaxed. However the security flying out that really stood out. There was a security check before check in!
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 273
The reason there is tight security when you leave is because they want to know where you have been in Israel.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Dec 2012
Total posts 53
The aisle business class seat seems to leave you very exposed in bed mode.
21 Aug 2019
Total posts 53
Great. Another Kangaroo Route option to London and Europe.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
23 Apr 2019
Total posts 9
The hard product on the dreamliners is good. All the older planes hard product is very poor. I've done the old B777 HKG-TLV last year and it was awful. This year it switched to the B787-9 and it was like a different airline.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2014
Total posts 147
It's always great to see a new carrier coming to Australia. Hopefully they can make the trial work.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
Don't forget they wont fly on Friday/Shabat, so no arriving on Saturday before the start of the working week (Sunday).
Economy even on the dreamliner is mediocre. They have an upgrade package in Economy where a perk is your own personal bottled water, rather than poured into a plastic cup.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
and re security - I would assume extended security check before you get to check-in at Melbourne. Plus the extreme security when leaving TLV.
16 Nov 2018
Total posts 29
Be prepared to be questioned for an hour at check-in by staff, especially if your passport shows that you have been to Muslim countries in the past.
If you often do international mile runs, expect questions like "why do you travel there alone?" "how much did it cost?" "why do you have so much miles?" "you don't need to work?"
Give yourself 4 hours at the airport.
04 Dec 2017
Total posts 65
Try 2 hours. The whole world lets you, as an upright world citizen, glide straight through customs but TLV is a nightmare if they don't like a visa in your passport or the colour of your socks. Don't even get me started about the painful departure security procedures! I would never chose this routing or airline for the kangaroo route esp when you have luxurious airlines such as Qatar, Singapore, Emirates A380's with bars, real cuisine, beautiful amenities and impeccable service to choose from.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
04 Mar 2018
Total posts 29
Been in and out of Israel 4 times. Pre boarding going to Israel, Did not take more than 5 minutes. However my 3rd time going in took 10 mins. This was because a new to the job person did the questioning and needed to keep going back to her supervisor.
Does not bother me as they have been professional and respectful. If you want a bad experience try to convince the TSA in USA they are wrong. They get real threatening and when proven wrong just yell at you to leave with no apology. The Israel's are professional at what they do
Etihad - Etihad Guest
04 Mar 2018
Total posts 29
I agree the old 747 and 777 were tired and old and the crew were far from happy people.
Did the 787 from JHB to TLV, and TLV to Hong Kong. Brighter cleaner nicer, and crew were motivated. Issue I found is that getting into and out of Business Class seats, was too difficult. This applies to seats where the seat is away from the isle. The gap is just too small. I am 6 ft 3 and slender and had issues squeezing thru the gap, As such I will not fly EL AL with the 787, as they have saved 50 to 75mm and lost a customer.
I am not paying the Business Class price to be squeezed into the cabin.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 63
I heard that upon entering Israeli airspace, everyone needs to be seated for security reasons.
Is that true?
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jun 2017
Total posts 36
Israel is so small that the plane always begins its descent well before entering its airspace.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 31
Same as Singapore.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
04 Mar 2018
Total posts 29
Depends. If you come in from the north than usually over the Mediterranean Sea. But from the south no. Israel is about the size of Victoria.
15 Jul 2016
Total posts 5
Victoria is 227,444 km²
Isreal is 22,072 km²
Etihad - Etihad Guest
04 Mar 2018
Total posts 29
Nit to my knowledge. It's the same as most airlines. That is just before landing. If you come in over the Red Sea and up the Gulf of Asana we are well past Eilat and within Israel before seat belts.
Any way you are safer inside Israel.
Cheerd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2017
Total posts 18
Flew El Al in January 2019. Yes. Security was strict going in but didn't take more than 10 mins and was largely done at the departure gate via interview (GVA).
On arrival in TLV my wife' passport hadn't been exit stamped the last time we were in Israel. So there was an issue at immigration. As a previous post mentioned, this was quickly and respectfully ironed out. None of the aggression and power trip that you might find in other countries.
A reminder that security is your friend. Be grateful that it is done comprehensively and professionally...anywhere.
24 Oct 2018
Total posts 2
As a frequent traveler to the Middle East, I'd suggest that your treatment will largely depend on your skin colour, religion, passport and possession of a Palestinian sounding name (in increasing order of difficulty.)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2017
Total posts 18
The (737-900) flight itself was fine (we were in Y). It was up there with any western European carrier...except you get the very distinct impression that ELAl is an extremely safe and secure airline with both flight and cabin crew trained to their eyeballs and very proud to be presenting their country to the world. You can't say that about many other carriers.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
23 Apr 2019
Total posts 9
Answer the security questions honestly and in a friendly manner and you will be done in 5-10 minutes. Smile. They always smile back unlike the American TSA thugs. Remember that they usually know the answers to the questions they ask you and know what you had for dinner last night so don't be a smart alec. Security is there for your benefit.
I suspect the recently announced roll out of the new heavily armed swat teams at the big 6 airports in Australia early next year were a prerequisite.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 273
Agree, if you just answer all the questions respectfully and have patience when they ask the same questions in a different way you will be fine. I have flown them probably 20 times and the experience is nearly always different, ranging from breezing through security to being interrogated for 1.5 hours.
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 36
BA use the Dan lounge at TLV and it is basic. EL Al have its own lounge which is very good
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
04 Mar 2015
Total posts 5
17hrs in 30" pitch in economy (where the majority of flyers sit). Not sure about that. I'm all for ultra-long-haul flights but it needs an ultra-long-haul product and service to match - especially if they are charging a premium fare in all classes (eg QF said their non-stop SYD-NYC would attract a 30% premium and sure El Al and all others would do similar).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 15
My wife and I are booked on the direct MLB-TLV flight next month. Hopefully it won't get cancelled. Have travelled many times via BKK and HKK, and am looking forward to saving time (at least 7 hrs less including layover) with the direct flight. I am happier with their security than other airlines - usually 5 minutes of simple questions, (to which the answer is always no.)
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