El Al soars to record profits, enjoying near-monopoly on flights to and from Israel

Israel's flagship airline, El Al, has reported a staggering 260% increase in its third-quarter profits.

This has been largely attributed to the near-monopoly the carrier has had following the suspension of flights by many foreign airlines amid the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

The carrier’s earnings for the July to September period hit £147 million, up from £41 million during the same period in 2023, a dramatic shift that reflects the broader impact of the war.

Revenue during the quarter also surged by over 43%, reaching £790 million, up from £549 million last year.

El Al's load factor, which measures the percentage of seats filled on flights, rose to 94%, compared to 88% during the previous year.

These figures highlight the significant rise in demand for El Al's services, as international carriers have suspended or drastically reduced their flights to Israel.

Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, many major foreign airlines, including British Airways, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, have halted operations to and from Israel due to security concerns.

British Airways, for example, has announced that it will not resume flights to Israel until at least March.

Ryanair has cancelled its flights through 2024, while easyJet has suspended services to Israel at least until the end of March 2025. Wizz Air also announced it would cancel all flights to Israel through January 2025.

The cancellations have left a gap in the market that El Al, along with smaller Israeli carriers and a few airlines from the Persian Gulf and Eastern Europe, have stepped in to fill.

Israel has insisted that its airspace remains safe and operational, even amid the ongoing conflict, and has vowed to close its skies if necessary.

El Al's rapid profit growth has sparked criticism from some quarters, with accusations of price gouging and war profiteering, according to the Jerusalem Post.

However, the airline has refuted these allegations and has come to an agreement with Economy Minister Nir Barkat to cap ticket prices for four destinations—Larnaca, Athens, Dubai, and Vienna—through the end of the year.