El Al Israel Airlines (ELAL.TA) reported a almost 150% leap in profit, taking benefit of its near-monopoly standing with many international carriers having cancelled flights amid the conflict in Gaza and elevating shoppers’ ire over excessive fares.
Separately, El Al introduced a cope with Boeing (BA.N), for the acquisition of as much as 31 737 MAX plane value as a lot as $2.5 billion to interchange its growing older short-haul fleet of Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 planes.
Israel’s flag service posted a second-quarter net profit of $147 million, up from $59 million a 12 months earlier, earlier than the conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza that started on Oct. 7. With competitors sturdy, it had usually struggled to remain worthwhile pre-war.
Revenue jumped 33% to $839 million, whereas its passenger load issue rose to 92% from 87%, even because it expanded capability by 8%.
Its Tel Aviv-listed shares, nevertheless, fell 2% regardless of the outcomes.
El Al has been criticized by clients in Israel and overseas for price-gouging, because it has emerged as a near-monopoly for the reason that Gaza conflict triggered by the Hamas assaults in Israel. El Al has benefited as rivals have regularly cancelled providers because of the safety state of affairs.
El Al rejected the criticism and accusations it was taking benefit of a passenger base with little journey choice, saying that half of those that had purchased tickets this 12 months have been paying lower than in 2023.
“We put some constraints on our price list,” El Al Chief Executive Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia instructed Reuters.
ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS
Ben-Tal Ganancia mentioned many passengers have been reserving late given the safety uncertainty and demand was larger than provide. The service can also be offering flights for a charge to these stranded, from Greece, Cyprus and different areas and has added flights to the United States and Asia.
“So if you bought a ticket with United and now you are coming to El Al (after a cancellation) … you won’t find the same price that you bought six months before,” she mentioned.
After resuming flights in June, many air carriers have as soon as once more cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, some of them till 2025, amid threats of a potential assault on Israel by Iran and its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“The last few days prove to us in particular how fragile the concept of ‘open skies’ is in relation to Israel,” mentioned Ben-Tal Ganancia.
Source: Reuters
