Israel's national carrier, EL AL Airlines, has begun organizing emergency flights to bring home citizens stranded overseas following the closure of the country's airspace due to ongoing military hostilities.
Acting on directives from the Ministry of Transportation, the airline launched a special registration process on Monday for passengers whose flights to Israel were canceled. The effort, which also includes El Al's charter subsidiary Sundor, marks the first coordinated step toward repatriating tens of thousands of Israelis currently abroad.
An estimated 150,000 Israelis are currently stranded abroad. El Al opened registration through a dedicated link on its official website, stressing that phone requests would not be accepted. Applicants were instructed to await an email confirmation – typically sent within three hours – acknowledging receipt of their request. However, the airline emphasized that this confirmation does not guarantee a seat on a flight either.
Shortly after the announcement, the airline's website temporarily crashed due to a surge in traffic, rendering the registration portal inaccessible for many users. The disruption, however, was short-lived, and the site has since returned to full functionality.
Birthright visitors will be able to return home
Earlier in the day, Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced that outbound flights would also be permitted, enabling tourists and temporary visitors – including participants in Birthright Israel programs – to return to their home countries. She acknowledged that repatriating all stranded Israelis would take time and urged those abroad to remain calm.
"There's no need to panic," Regev said in a public address to stranded Israelis. "You're abroad – enjoy yourselves. I know it's not simple… but I ask for your patience."
Prioritization criteria and special cases
EL AL stated that prioritization will be based on the original departure dates of canceled flights. In special circumstances, humanitarian and security-related cases may be given precedence, subject to approval from relevant authorities.
While the sequence of registration is being tracked, it will not be a determining factor in seat allocation. Decisions will be made according to operational feasibility and evolving security conditions.
The airline urged passengers to prepare for potential delays in communication and flight scheduling. Travelers were advised to secure temporary accommodations as needed and to retain receipts for potential reimbursement, in accordance with Israel's consumer protection regulations.
Flight details will be released once government approval is granted. As of Monday evening, El Al confirmed it is coordinating closely with national authorities to ensure the safe execution of these exceptional repatriation operations.
