Traveling to Israel is crucial to support the country, says El Al executive
Sr. Vice President of the Americas Simon Newton-Smith addressed El Al's response to recent challenges at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference.
El Al played a critical role in facilitating travel after the October 7 terrorist attack EL AL Israel Airlines senior vice president of the Americas Simon Newton-Smith said Monday at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers, particularly when being called up for reserve duty, and said EL AL had taken a proactive approach to accommodating passengers’ needs during the crisis.
El Al has an unwavering commitment to connecting communities and supporting Israel, as seen in its response to urgent travel demands, Newton-Smith said.“One of the things you’ll know is we don’t fly on Shabbat,” he said. After October 7, however, El Al was granted special permission to fly on Shabbat, “making it easier for the troops to get back and defend the country and carry critical supplies back to Israel at that time,” he said.Newton-Smith also spoke about El Al’s recent expansions, including the launch of flights from Fort Lauderdale to Tel Aviv and strategic partnerships with major carriers such as Delta and Virgin Atlantic.Regarding safety and security, Newton-Smith said EL AL remained dedicated to its passengers’ well-being.“Keeping you safe is our No. 1 priority,” he said. “We have equipment on our aircraft that other airlines do not have. We have security onboard the aircraft, and our security before departure is unparalleled in our industry.”Newton-Smith reiterated the significance of supporting Israel through travel and affirmed El Al’s commitment to providing safe journeys.“Supporting Israel is traveling to Israel,” he said.
El Al sponsored a portion of the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference. www.jpost.com/AC24
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