El Al cancels Saturday night flights from London to Tel Aviv over Shabbat observance

Israel’s national airline El Al has canceled summer flights from London to Tel Aviv on Saturday night to avoid desecrating Shabbat. 

Channel 12 first reported the story, saying that the move was backed by new El-Al chief, Kenny Rozenberg, who is orthodox.

“Due to the change in the times when Shabbat ends with the transition to summer hours, and due to the restrictions on departures from Heathrow Airport, we have had to make adjustments to the flight schedule,” El Al said in a statement, according to Channel 12.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers as a result of this change,” the airline added.

El Al’s flights from London to Tel Aviv on Saturday night’s had previously seen costumers checking in before Shabbat ends, something the airline and secular travellers had no problem with. Until now.

Thousands of passengers who booked their tickets from London to Tel Aviv this summer will now have to either reschedule or apply for a refund.

Brits living in Israel were torn about the news, arguing on Facebook over whether El Al did the right thing.

“Another reason not to fly El-Al,” one Brit said, while another said “Taliban government. Soon, women and men won’t be able to sit together on the flight. I will never ever fly El Al again.”

“Afghanistan, here we come,” wrote another Facebook user. Other Brits were more supportive of the move. “Please feel free not to fly El Al. I, for one, am proud to use an airline that respects Shabbat. I’m sure there are enough like me to make up the numbers,” said one person.