El Al Increases Cancellation and Change Fees for Peak Travel

Israel's national airline, El Al, is implementing new, higher fees for flight cancellations and changes on routes to and from the United States during peak seasons and holidays in 2027. The updated policy, effective immediately on November 4, 2026, will apply to all new tickets purchased for these specific dates. These new "special change and cancellation fees" are expected to significantly increase costs for passengers who need to alter their travel plans at the last minute.

The dates affected by the increased fees include April 15-20 (Spring/Passover), May 19-23 (Lag B'Omer), and October 6-14 (Sukkot) for flights from the US to Israel. For flights from Israel to the US, the increased fees will apply during the Sukkot return period, October 25-26. The exact cost will depend on the ticket class, type purchased, and the timing of the request. This change comes amid consistently high demand on El Al's US routes around major holidays and events.

This announcement coincides with El Al's preparations for an expanded summer 2027 schedule to the Americas, marking its largest-ever operation in the region. Starting in late March 2027, the airline will operate 63 weekly flights to seven destinations in North and South America, offering approximately 35,000 seats weekly on its Dreamliner aircraft. Key routes like New York (JFK and Newark) will see up to seven daily flights, totaling 36 weekly. Miami flights will increase to nine per week, and the Los Angeles route will rise to nine weekly flights. Boston will have four weekly flights, facilitating connections with Delta. For the first time, El Al will offer three direct weekly flights to San Francisco during the summer. Additionally, the airline will launch two direct weekly flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of its South American expansion, with a one-way ticket price around $1,284.