El Al Must Pay Passenger $650 for Pre-Scheduled Flight

A Tel Aviv small claims court has ordered El Al to pay a passenger NIS 2,450 (approximately $650) for advancing his flight from Munich to Tel Aviv by about ten hours. Senior Registrar Helena Boruchovitz Litvin ruled that the airline failed to prove that security conditions necessitated the flight change. The court dismissed the passenger's other claims.

The passenger, Ehud Kimron, purchased a ticket on April 9, 2026, for a flight scheduled for April 21 at 8 PM. Three days after purchase, El Al notified him of a change, rebooking him on an earlier flight that same day at 10:20 AM. Kimron argued this constituted a substantial change in flight conditions and an effective cancellation of the original flight.

Under Israeli aviation law, passengers whose flights are advanced by more than eight hours are entitled to financial compensation, similar to flight cancellations. For flights between 2,000 and 4,500 kilometers, like Munich-Tel Aviv, the updated compensation for 2026 is NIS 2,450. Kimron also claimed El Al did not explain his rights, offering only to confirm the change or provide a refund. He sought additional compensation for exemplary damages and expenses, totaling NIS 2,500.

El Al contended that the flight change was not a commercial or operational decision but a result of force majeure, citing the "Operation "Lion's Roar"" which led to airspace closures and the conscription of staff. The airline argued Kimron knowingly purchased the ticket during a period of known security concerns. El Al also stated they offered an alternative flight or a full refund, and that Kimron used the alternative flight.

The court rejected El Al's force majeure defense, noting that while the security situation was difficult, the airline did not provide sufficient evidence of exceptional circumstances forcing the flight alteration. The registrar referenced a Supreme Court ruling stating that a genuine dispute over compensation obligations weakens the justification for exemplary damages, which is a punitive remedy awarded only in exceptional cases. As the court found a genuine dispute and El Al offered a suitable alternative flight, Kimron's claim for exemplary damages was denied. The court ordered El Al to pay the NIS 2,450 within 30 days and each party to bear its own legal costs due to the partial success of the claim.