Alex Cruz at TLV Celebrating 85 Years of BA
Nov 10, 2017, 8:53 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Monarch flew weekly from LTN to OVDa. OVDa is international entry point to the South of Israel it would seem. The airport in the center of Eilat does not accept international flights and Ovda is about an hour away by ground transport.
Nov 10, 2017, 9:02 am
#17
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OVD is an airforce base that also handle civil flights to ETH. Once Ramon airport opens all flights to Eilat will go there and the small airfield within the city will be demolished; the new airport is only 19km north of Eilat.
Nov 10, 2017, 9:32 am
#18
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Nov 10, 2017, 9:35 am
#19
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For those discussing the seasonality of Eilat, it's worth noting that Eilat gets pretty hot. Now, that sounds stupid I appreciate, but it makes it a pretty quiet place to visit during June-August.
However, Eilat over Passover (April) and Succot (September/October) is hugely popular. As such, a seasonal routing would potentially be a tough one to work out, because the season would need to run from September-April, when most of the schedules run October-March.
I'd personally be quite surprised if the route launched, especially from LGW. However, if STN or LTN were options to Eilat, then at least the airports would be within reach of the communities in North-West London.
M
Nov 10, 2017, 9:43 am
#20
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In the last two years the Israel Ministry of Tourism put a lot of money in order to get as many airlines to fly to Eilat by means of heavy subsidisation. However, it turned out that many pax fly to Eilat but have their holiday in Aqaba as it is much cheaper... 
Nov 10, 2017, 1:26 pm
#21
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When I worked for LY we sold seasonal non-stop flights LHR-VDA as well as connections through TLV. They even took me for a week long fam-trip, where we flew into VDA and out of ETH. The flight up to TLV before ours was a group of BA cabin crew in uniform; they had been staying in ETH instead of TLV.
Nov 10, 2017, 1:44 pm
#22
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Never got the same time off school for religious holidays that they got more's the pity.
Nov 10, 2017, 3:07 pm
#23
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More OT, visiting Eliat and Petra would be a great trip, would love to do it.
Nov 10, 2017, 4:08 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Anbassador’s Residence
There are a number of European carriers that fly into Eilat seasonally, including some not seen at TLV, such as SAS. A new airport will open within about six months, and tourist arrivals are expected to significantly increase. The border crossing at Eilat-Aqaba is also likely the easiest one into Jordan, so its a good jumping off point for trips into southern Jordan as well. That said, I'd be extremely surprised if it was anything but a short-haul aircraft.
In terms of the event, I also attended - it was indeed very relaxed, and Cruz has a good sense of humour. I'm only a Gold (not GGL), but generally just fly Club. Perhaps I have a good enough CIV to make the cut
.
Interestingly, 85 years ago the first flight from London was on a flying boat that landed in the Sea of Galilee - and it took 20 hours!
In terms of the event, I also attended - it was indeed very relaxed, and Cruz has a good sense of humour. I'm only a Gold (not GGL), but generally just fly Club. Perhaps I have a good enough CIV to make the cut
.Interestingly, 85 years ago the first flight from London was on a flying boat that landed in the Sea of Galilee - and it took 20 hours!
I was also due to fly home from Ovda to Luton last night on Monarch with 21 other passengers. BA were amazing and re-booked all of us for £100 pp to London. Crew were amazing too and brought us drinks from the First galley throughout the flight.
Lord Rothschild was also onboard last night heading home from a Balfour Event at the Knesset.
Haven’t flown BA Y for years longhaul but Service was amazing both ways - they went above and beyond
Nov 21, 2017, 9:49 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2009
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It's a very interesting option for a short break, but most who are visiting Petra, fly into TLV, drive by to the Dead Sea, and then onto Petra - because it's a pretty easy drive to do.
I dare say I'm friends with the sons/daughters of some of the Glaswegian Jews you were at school with! It's a small world!
For those discussing the seasonality of Eilat, it's worth noting that Eilat gets pretty hot. Now, that sounds stupid I appreciate, but it makes it a pretty quiet place to visit during June-August.
However, Eilat over Passover (April) and Succot (September/October) is hugely popular. As such, a seasonal routing would potentially be a tough one to work out, because the season would need to run from September-April, when most of the schedules run October-March.
I'd personally be quite surprised if the route launched, especially from LGW. However, if STN or LTN were options to Eilat, then at least the airports would be within reach of the communities in North-West London.
M
I dare say I'm friends with the sons/daughters of some of the Glaswegian Jews you were at school with! It's a small world!
For those discussing the seasonality of Eilat, it's worth noting that Eilat gets pretty hot. Now, that sounds stupid I appreciate, but it makes it a pretty quiet place to visit during June-August.
However, Eilat over Passover (April) and Succot (September/October) is hugely popular. As such, a seasonal routing would potentially be a tough one to work out, because the season would need to run from September-April, when most of the schedules run October-March.
I'd personally be quite surprised if the route launched, especially from LGW. However, if STN or LTN were options to Eilat, then at least the airports would be within reach of the communities in North-West London.
M
Nov 21, 2017, 9:50 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Was there any discussion with Mr. Cruz about why the heck their fares from TLV are so high compared to other carriers? In many cases $400-500 higher R/T than Easyjet to LTN?
Nov 21, 2017, 11:11 am
#27
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I suppose it's because they can. If they are filling their aircraft there's no incentive to lower fares.
Nov 21, 2017, 11:23 am
#28
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Having said that, I've seen EasyJet's prices a fair bit higher than BA's at times.
BA's prices are often very competitive especially in Biz and especially further afield.
Nov 21, 2017, 11:58 am
#29
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Does anyone have any suggestions on getting to Eilat from the UK in February? With a family member with limited mobility, so ideally would avoid long layovers, changing airport in TLV etc.
It seems very difficult to get a single ticket itinerary, and ITA matrix can't seem to cope.
Family member seems to think it'll be a walk in the park, so any advice I can suggest as an alternative (perhaps spending a couple of days in TLV first?) would be gratefully received!
It seems very difficult to get a single ticket itinerary, and ITA matrix can't seem to cope.
Family member seems to think it'll be a walk in the park, so any advice I can suggest as an alternative (perhaps spending a couple of days in TLV first?) would be gratefully received!
Nov 21, 2017, 1:42 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Try the charters, Thomas Cook have been known to run LTN to VDA before now, often en route to TLV. In fact taking that route a few years ago quite a few of the TLV passengers were unaware there was another stop first.