Israel’s Competition Authority announced Sunday that it intends to impose a NIS 121 million fine on El Al Airlines, alleging that the national carrier charged “excessive and unfair” prices during the early months of the Gaza war.
The proposed fine—the maximum penalty allowed by law—is subject to a formal hearing.
According to the authority, El Al functioned as a de facto monopoly on inbound and outbound flights from Israel between October 7, 2023 and May 2024, after most foreign airlines chose to suspend service following the Hamas-led terror attack and the outbreak of war.
Regulators said El Al’s share of Israel’s aviation market surged from roughly 20 percent prior to October 7 to more than 70 percent within days, remaining above 50 percent overall throughout the first months of the conflict.
During that same period, the Competition Authority found that average ticket prices rose by approximately 16 percent, with increases ranging from 6 to 31 percent on major routes, depending on destination and class of service.
The authority concluded that the pricing increases were unjustified given the lack of competition and the intense demand for flights during the wartime emergency.
El Al reported recorded a record revenue of $3.4 billion in 2024, and a net profit of $545 million. Revenue was up approximately 37% from 2023.
El Al Pushes Back
El Al rejected the allegations, saying the authority’s analysis was flawed, adding that there is no precedent for determining that the price increases cited by the regulator constitute excessive pricing.
The airline said it will present its full position at the upcoming hearing and is confident that the authority’s conclusions will not withstand legal scrutiny.
The Competition Authority’s investigation followed months of public and political criticism in Israel over El Al’s fare levels during the war, particularly as it remained one of the only carriers consistently flying to and from the country.
In addition to the regulatory action, El Al is facing separate civil lawsuits seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, also alleging price-gouging during the wartime period.
Any fine ultimately imposed would be paid into state coffers.
It’s like they want us to visit but make it impossible to do so
Why enforce the law against price gouging, while it’s actually happening?
Let’s just wait till the end of the war and then fine the company, so that the money goes to the state instead of to the people.
What a twisted way.
they cost to much for 11 people people 12000 dollars
Good, serves them right for taking advantage of innocent Jews, especially when Yiddishkeit costs a lot as is.
Thank god for President trump. He is very pro-business and he understands the laws of supply and demand. Unfortunately, Israel is very socialist and doesn’t understand that if you harm businesses that run the economy, it hurts everyone. They should really learn about Ronald Reagan and trickle-down economics if they want to have any success in the future.
You may be right, but when writing out Trump’s name, the T should be capitalised.
While the tickets were inflated and expensive, consider that they were flying at a dangerous time. Their insurance probably went up, other risk factors etc
The government should thank them for the extra revenue while the rest of the infrastructure was crumbling.
How about fine the government for charging grossly inflated COVID tests and those ridiculous laws and fines.
If they do get fine that amount of money.. who actually gets the money? Not the people that pay the tickets so what’s the point
Took the words out of my mouth. The people shoukd be compensated
And how are they going to cover the fine? By raising prices again.
for 10 people its 11000
This fine is a money grabbing government sanctioned theft.
None of it goes back into the pockets of the people supposedly harmed.