Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Israeli FM delays LY flight 35 minutes (gasp!)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/503632.html

Is this really news?

It says that religious pax were upset that they wouldn't make it to Israel in time for Shabbat. But LY2 gets in at 12:50pm. Is a 35 minute delay really that big of a deal? I know the sun is setting early these days in Israel, but if 35 minutes is such a big deal, why would religious people even choose this flight? It's not like a 35 minute delay is so unheard of in the aviation world.

Slow news day?

Airlines regularly delay flights for celebrities/politicians. I know of cases where flights were delayed for Jimmy Carter (when he was no longer President of course), Kurt Waldheim (then UN General Secretary) and Senta Berger (actress). I am sure that there have been many more and, as you say, what is a 35 minute delay nowadays? Almost routine ops at many airports....

The Thursday night flights are very sensitive to Israelis. The 028 out of Newark and 002 out of JFK have a relatively high percentage of religious people who need to make it home for Shabbat. When 002 is scheduled for 12:50 and you live in the Yerushalayim area, and the morons in Terminal 3 still haven't figured out how to work the damn jetways (took 15 minutes to maneuver the sleeve to the door last week!!!) then your talking about getting home at around 2:30 - 3 PM - and shabbat is at 3:50 in Yerushalayim these days. With a delay of even 35 minutes, well, you do the math.

VERY insensitive of LY and of Silvan Shalom. He could have just as easily gone on the next flight 2 hours later. There was NO REASON for him to hold up that flight. Pure arrogance. Just imagine if we elected people in Israel instead of parties!

LatusElal, those who are truly Shomrei Shabbas wouldn't cut it so fine if they are that worried about making it home for shabbas. There are any number of reasons why the plane could be delayed. The French have a good saying which I try and translate: "There is no point running, one should leave in good time". The same applies.

[QUOTE=themicah]http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/503632.html

>> But LY2 gets in at 12:50pm. Is a 35 minute delay really that big of a deal? <<

Yes it is. The flight arrives at 12.35 but it takes time to get home and you have to prepare. He could very well have taken the flight that leaves 2 hours later.

It reminds me when I lived in Egypt I was taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria. We sat for 30 minutes and we were then informed that we had to wait for the Minister of Transport. We were all furious! I don't blame them.