EL AL, Israel's national airline, is discontinuing its flights from Fort Lauderdale to Tel Aviv effective April 2026, despite a favorable response from travelers. Current operations include two weekly flights that will be reduced to one by late October. The decision was made due to runway length limitations at Fort Lauderdale, which cannot accommodate a fully loaded aircraft, prompting a shift in flights to Miami. EL AL aims to maintain growth in South Florida while managing operational capabilities more effectively.
"EL AL Israel Airlines has informed the Broward County Aviation Department that it will cease operations at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in the second quarter of 2026," spokesperson Arlene Satchell said in an emailed statement.
"This is disappointing news for BCAD as EL AL's service between FLL and Tel Aviv was well-received amongst the traveling public with flights consistently operating on average over 90 percent full," she added.
"The longer runway at MIA allows us to operate our largest aircraft with a full load of passengers and a full cargo payload year-round," said Simon Newton-Smith, the airline's senior vice president of the Americas.
"Our intention is to grow in South Florida, and the longer runway at MIA will give us this capability," Simon Newton-Smith stated regarding the rationale behind routing the flight changes.
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