Three years ago, it was rare to see an Israeli-flagged plane parked next to a sea of Emirates Airbus A380s.
However, in August 2020, Israel and the UAE sent shock waves across the Middle East and beyond when it announced it would normalize relations as part of a US-brokered treaty. One of the main tenets of the agreement is the establishment of commercial flights between the two previously unconnected countries.
Four months later, that day has come – and I was there to see it all in person from El Al flight 977, First commercial flight to UAE for the national airline of Israel.
And nearly two years since, there are now up to 30 daily flights operating between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
El Al, along with two United Arab Emirates airlines, Etihad and The Emiratesfly between the two countries, and there are even plenty of ultra-low-cost airlines competing on the roughly 1,320-mile route from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
I was recently in Tel Aviv on vacation and needed to go to the UAE for a work event. When I was looking to get there, I chose to fly with El Al, because it would give me a direct comparison with my experience on the same historical route almost two years ago.
This is how things have changed.
The waiting room is back
As Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv returns to pre-pandemic traffic levels, El Al has reopened its flagship King David Lounge in the departures hall.
This two-story space is El Al’s only lounge in Tel Aviv and features a wide selection of seating options and buffets. In addition to a variety of delicious Middle Eastern salads and dips, you can enjoy freshly baked pizzas, soups and desserts.
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There’s even a walk-in wine bar showcasing some of the local brands, such as Teperberg.
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Before the pandemic, El AL partnered with Brown Hotels to open a pay-per-treatment spa at the King David Lounge. Unfortunately, this space is still closed. However, the rest of the lounge is back up and running.
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It is worth noting that the space can get quite crowded during peak departure banks. I recommend going upstairs to find a seat if you can’t find a seat when entering downstairs.
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That said, the King David Lounge is the airport’s best pick for premium cabin passengers, so it’s great to see it reopen.
better plane
When El Al launched commercial flights to Dubai, it flew its first flight using its short-haul pack horse, a Boeing 737-900.
This aircraft has 16 business class recliners and 159 economy class seats. While the airline continues to operate some Dubai frequencies using the 737, it is flying its flagship aircraft, the Dream plane Boeing 787to the United Arab Emirates.
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Dreamliner offers a significantly better onboard experience. The business class cabin transforms into a flatbed, and there’s even a reasonably priced premium economy class for those looking for a first-class domestic experience without spending a fortune.
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Even the economy seats have been upgraded with new contoured cushions and headrests.
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I booked business class on a recent flight to Dubai and I am extremely impressed with the Recaro CL6710. I was assigned a private group adjacent to the window, with plenty of privacy and storage.
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With a flight departure time of 5:30 a.m., I had no trouble taking a nap after converting my chair into a bed.
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The Dreamliner onboard experience was a day and night difference from the El Al grand opening I had done two years earlier. If you are going to fly this route, I highly recommend choosing a frequency operated by El Al 787.
However, it’s not just El Al that deploys its finest planes on these routes. Emirates now flies daily between Tel Aviv and Dubai on one flight Boeing 777-300while FlyDubai operates some flights with Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are equipped to lie flat.
While Emirates certainly offers the best overall premium experience with Its first class productThe business class 2-3-2 configuration is inferior to the El Al’s 1-2-1 configuration, which provides direct access in every seat.
luxury amenities
Another welcome improvement I experienced on my recent El Al flight to Dubai was the introduction of more luxurious amenities.
Perhaps it was because my flight was operated by a Dreamliner, which normally performs long-haul missions, but waiting at my seat upon boarding was El Al do Hollandia’s signature pillow and duvet manufacturing.
I even received a L’Occitane-branded amenity kit, which included a gift for aviation enthusiasts – a pair of airline-branded socks with the route’s airport code. El Al street. (I received the bright orange Tel Aviv-Hong Kong pair.)
I also appreciate the small tubes of hand cream and lip balm, as well as the disposable bath towel.
When I flew the route back in 2020, I received an unbranded amenity kit, which included socks, earplugs, a toothbrush, and an eye mask.
In-flight entertainment for everyone
In addition to the more luxurious seats on the Dreamliner, every passenger in all cabins enjoys a much better in-flight entertainment.
Each seat is equipped with a high-definition entertainment screen with a variety of movies, TV shows and games. The moving map is highly customizable, and it even has a new view that shows Jewish prayer times according to the plane’s current location.
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El Al’s 737s don’t have an integrated rear-seat entertainment system. Instead, the carrier installed a business-class stand-up tablet that folds out from the center console. Those seated at the back of the plane receive an iPad filled with movies and TV shows to use during the flight.
Currently, only El Al’s Dreamliners and Boeing 777 aircraft have Wi-Fi connectivity provided by Viasat satellites. While that theoretically represents an upgrade over the unconnected Boeing 737 I flew back in 2020, El Al is yet to offer internet service on routes east of Israel. .
That’s because Viasat has yet to launch a third-generation satellite that is set to provide global connectivity. However, it is worth mentioning that I have received positive feedback from readers about El Al’s internet service on transatlantic flights. Full flight packages with streaming support are available for $24.99 on routes to North America.
Massive food upgrade
With Israel lifts all COVID-19 restrictionsEl Al has also brought back full in-flight meal service, which I enjoyed on a recent flight.
Breakfast main options are tomato and cheese omelettes or blintzes. I went with the latter, it was delicious.
The signature dish is served with pickles and tomatoes, some Middle Eastern dressing and salad, two small loaves of bread and a cheesecake for dessert.
While the food itself was delicious, I also appreciated the stylish crockery and the wonderful presentation of all the ingredients in the meal.
Back when I flew in 2020, no hot food was offered and the meal — shown above — was presented with the plastic cover intact. Even the loaves of the day were individually wrapped, so the improvements to meal service were particularly noticeable.
New permanent routing
According to the flight route, to travel between Tel Aviv and Dubai need to fly through Saudi Arabia. That poses a problem for El Al as the Kingdom has historically not allowed registered Israeli aircraft to use its airspace.
Without permission to fly over, Israeli planes would have to fly over the Red Sea and around the Arabian Peninsula to get to and from Dubai, prolonging hours and consuming unnecessary fuel. However, UAE planes can transit through Saudi Arabia, putting Israeli airlines at a significant disadvantage.
Before flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates were launched in 2020, government agencies worked to secure these overflight rights with Saudi Arabia.
They did, but with one big condition – the right to fly over only applies to routes to and from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Other flights, like El Al’s route to Bangkok and Phuket, still need to be diverted around Saudi Arabia.
However, two years later, there was more diplomacy in the air. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia open airspace to all Israeli aircraft under a treaty brokered by the Biden administration.
This is not only good news for the commercial viability of El Al’s UAE routes but also opens up a number of important growth opportunities for the airlineincluding possible destinations in India and beyond.
However, the feasibility of these routes depends on Tel Aviv also receiving overflight rights from Oman, which is still in the process of being finalized.
bottom line
To me, flying between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on a non-stop El Al flight is still pretty bizarre.
I’m lucky to have taken inaugurating a commercial route between these two countries during the height of the pandemic in 2020, and I’m still excited about the opportunity to fly this route again two years later.
This time, the experience was much more pleasant. First, I don’t have to worry about complicated restrictions related to COVID-19.
Plus, the flight itself — from the time at the King David Lounge to the Dreamliner’s impressive in-flight experience — was so much better than round one.
Next time I fly this route, I’d love to try the Emirates first class experience. However, with the outdated 2-3-2 configuration in business class, El Al’s Dreamliner is definitely the right choice if you are flying business class.
