First Shabbat flight for El Al since 1982
El Al, Israel’s national airline, will operate during the Sabbath to repatriate Israeli reservists and rescue workers, the airline announced on Thursday.
An El Al plane takes off from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport Photo by Kobi Richter/TPS
The airline said the breaking in its decades-long policy received rabbinic approval in order to save lives.
El Al, Israel’s flagship carrier, has not offered Sabbath flights since 1982.
Sabbath flights in 1982 sparked religious-secular controversy. The Knesset responded by passing legislation prohibiting El Al from operating during the Sabbath. El Al was state-owned at the time.
Reserve soldiers will be able to fly back to Israel on Saturday free of charge on flights leaving from New York and Bangkok.
