Photo by
Kobi Richter/TPS on 7 November, 2018
El Al to Fly on Sabbath to Repatriate Israeli Reservists
Jerusalem, 12 October, 2023 (TPS) -- El Al, Israel’s national airline will operate during the Sabbath to repatriate Israeli reservists and rescue workers, the airline announced on Thursday.
The airline said the breaking in its decades-long policy received rabbinic approval in order to save lives.
El Al, Israel’s flagship carrier has not offered Sabbath flights since 1982.
Sabbath flights in 1982 sparked religious-secular controversy. The Knesset responded by passing legislation prohibiting El Al from operating during the Sabbath. El Al was state-owned at the time.
Reserve soldiers will be able to flying back to Israel on Saturday free of charge on flights leaving from New York and Bangkok.
