Skip to content

El Al Israel Airlines (LY) Guide

No reviews yet Airline
A practical guide to El Al: the network from TLV, the Boeing 777-200ER and the rest of the fleet, luggage rules, check-in and cheaper fares. Ask a question
Claim Flag
In short

El Al is the flag carrier of Israel, flying an all-Boeing fleet from Ben Gurion Airport to about 50 destinations in Europe, North America and Asia. It suits nonstop trips to and from Israel. El Al is not part of an alliance, and its loyalty programme is called Matmid. Cabins are Business, Premium and Economy.

El Al is the flag carrier of Israel, flying since 1948 from its base at Ben Gurion Airport. It serves about 50 destinations in 31 countries across Europe, North America and Asia, and is known for its extensive security procedures.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with El Al Israel Airlines. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

El Al Israel Airlines is the flag carrier of Israel, headquartered at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, its only hub. It suits travellers flying to and from Israel, and those who want an airline that does not fly on Shabbat. It was incorporated on 15 November 1948 and flew its first flight, from Geneva to Tel Aviv, in September that year.

About 49 destinations on four continents

El Al lists about 49 destinations in 31 countries on four continents, covering Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. It announced a Tel Aviv to Buenos Aires route for late 2026. New York has been a key route since El Al began non-stop flights between New York and Tel Aviv in 1961. Its first international flight, to Paris in 1949, refuelled in Rome on the way.

After the Gaza war began in October 2023, El Al cancelled some seasonal routes and delayed new ones, so check the current schedule before planning a trip.

No flights on Shabbat

El Al generally does not fly on Shabbat. Exceptions have been rare: during the 1982 Lebanon War, during the Gaza war that began in October 2023, when it received rabbinical approval to bring reserve soldiers home, and after attacks on Israeli football supporters in November 2024. Plan Friday and Saturday travel around this.

Partners, subsidiaries and ownership

El Al is not in a global alliance. It codeshares with partners including Air France, KLM, Delta, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. Sun d'Or runs charter and leisure flights, and El Al Cargo carries freight. Other group companies include caterers and the tour wholesaler Superstar Holidays. A low-cost airline, Up, ran from 2014 until October 2018.

El Al is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In September 2020 Kanfei Nesharim, the company of Eli Rozenberg, bought a controlling stake of 42.85 percent. In 2024 El Al reported a record profit of 545 million US dollars.

Checking for short-notice schedule changes

Schedules can change at short notice during periods of regional tension, so check your flight status on the El Al website before leaving for the airport. Confirm your baggage allowance for your fare when you book.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
El Al official website

See the source
  1. El Al official website
–/5 No reviews yet
Travelled through El Al Israel Airlines? Your review helps other travellers.

Good to know

  • Founded1948

Everything you should know

Airline codes

LY · ELY

IATA · ICAO · callsign “ELAL”

Every El Al flight number begins with LY. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code ELY, and the radio callsign is ELAL.

Key facts

Main hub

Tel Aviv (TLV)

Ben Gurion Airport

Network

~50 destinations

Israel · Europe · North America · Asia

From Tel Aviv Ben Gurion, El Al flies across Europe and to gateways in North America such as New York JFK, Newark, Miami, Los Angeles and Boston, and to Asia including Bangkok and Tokyo.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Business

and Premium, Economy

Business, Premium and Economy; lie-flat business seats on the Boeing 787 and refurbished 777. El Al sells Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Premium Economy is on the 787. On the 787, Business uses pods in a 1-2-1 layout, so every seat has aisle access. First class was withdrawn in 2019.

Compare cabins

Good to know

El Al does not operate flights on the Jewish Sabbath and major holidays. Allow extra time for its security screening. Its loyalty programme is Matmid, and its official website is elal.com.

Frequent flyer

Matmid

No global alliance

El Al stays outside the three global alliances. Points from its flights go into Matmid.

How it works

Start a new search

One bookingMentor search puts an El Al ticket next to every other option on your route, so you can see which airline gives the better deal.

Bon voyage on your next El Al flight.

Select dates

At a glance

El Al (IATA: LY, ICAO: ELY) is the flag carrier of Israel, based at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Flying since 1948, it operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 777 and 787 aircraft to about 50 destinations in Europe, North America and Asia.

Key facts about El Al Israel Airlines
HeadquartersBen Gurion Airport, Israel
Fleet typesBoeing 737-800, 737-900ER, 777-200ER, 787-8 and 787-9
Frequent flyerMatmid
Official websiteelal.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
The El Al network at a glance. The airline changes routes from time to time, and a search shows which LY flights run on your dates. Search flights

Europe

Tel Aviv (TLV) departures18 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

El Al has about 47 aircraft, all Boeing. The Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fly shorter routes, and the 777-200ER, 787-8 and 787-9 fly long-haul. Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are on order, with deliveries from 2028 to replace the 737-800.

  • Boeing 737-800 Narrow-body European routes
  • Boeing 737-900ER Narrow-body European routes
  • Boeing 777-200ER Wide-body · 6 in service Long-haul; the oldest wide-bodies in the fleet
  • Boeing 787-8 Wide-body The main long-haul type
  • Boeing 787-9 Wide-body The main long-haul type

Cabin classes

El Al sells three cabins, Business, Premium and Economy. The aircraft and route decide which El Al cabins you can book.

Business All aircraft

Business class

Business class on all aircraft; lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout on 787s and refurbished 777s.

Lie-flat on 787 and new 777 cabinsLounge access

Premium Long-haul

Premium economy

A premium economy cabin on long-haul aircraft.

More space

Economy All flights

Standard seat

The main cabin on every flight.

Seat-back screens on 777 and 787

Matmid

Earn points on LY flights with Matmid, which you can join on the El Al website.

Matmid has five tiers, from Matmid to Matmid TOP Platinum. Points earned on El Al flights can be used for award tickets, upgrades and other benefits.

The loyalty programme is Matmid. It has several membership tiers; add your number when you book.

Baggage allowance

El Al does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your LY e-ticket shows what you have.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

El Al sets one allowance for short-haul and another for long-haul, and its premium cabins always carry more than the cheapest economy fare. Check the route-by-route figures on elal.com.

Pro tip: weigh your bags at home before leaving for the airport; extra weight on El Al usually costs more at the counter than when you add it online.
Travel day

Online Check-in

The four steps below take you from your El Al booking to the gate, whether you depart from TLV or another airport on its network. El Al's security procedures are stringent and take time. Passengers are questioned and bags checked before check-in, at Ben Gurion and at many overseas airports, and undercover agents fly on international flights. In 2008 Global Traveler named it the world's most secure airline. Arrive early and allow time for questioning.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Use elal.com to check in for eligible flights. Have your El Al booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your El Al flight. Domestic LY passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Get to the airport with time for El Al check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Hand in checked luggage at the El Al counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.

    El Al counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official El Al website.
Check in with El Al
Save money

Cheap tickets

How to find a cheaper El Al fare without giving up the bag or seat you need.

  1. 01

    Be flexible with your El Al dates

    If your dates can move, look at LY flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak holiday dates

    Fares rise around Passover, the High Holidays in autumn and the summer holidays. Book early for those dates.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Check what each El Al fare includes

    The lowest LY fare is not always the cheapest trip once bags and seats are added. Compare the fare types before you pay.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Arrive early for security

    El Al’s security screening takes time at Ben Gurion and at overseas airports. Arrive early, especially for international flights.

    El Al screening
  5. 05

    Join Matmid

    Membership of Matmid lets your El Al trips count towards rewards, and members hear about offers first.

    Before you fly

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search El Al alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search El Al flights

Reviews and questions

Contribute:
No reviews yetFlown El Al Israel Airlines recently? Be the first to share your experience with other travellers.

Visitors are asking

Still looking?

Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown El Al.

Need help?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying El Al Israel Airlines.
Answers checked against El Al’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

Getting there

None. Codeshare deals with airlines such as Qantas and Virgin Atlantic let you combine El Al with their flights on a single ticket.