After a daunting but failed weekend missile attack by Iran on Israel, a Boeing 787 operated by El Al Airlines arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Monday, inaugurating long-promised regularly scheduled air service between Broward County and the beleaguered Jewish state.
At a brief ceremony, complete with a fire rescue salute of the inbound aircraft, Israel’s consul general from Miami, airline executives and county officials gathered to mark the moment. A full flight of 240 passengers arrived on the wide-bodied jetliner at the airport’s Terminal 4, which the airline has been using since last fall to operate seasonal flights to Tel Aviv pegged to the high Jewish holidays.
Late last week, El Al’s launch of regular twice-a week service appeared in doubt as Iran’s government engaged in sabre rattling about retaliating against Israel for its missile strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria that killed three high-ranking Iranian military officials. The threats became a reality on Saturday as more than 300 missiles and drones from Iran roared toward Israel, though most of them were intercepted by air defenses.
By early Sunday, Israel had reopened its airspace and the national airport authority resumed operations at Ben Gurion International Airport, the end point for most flights arriving from overseas.
Israel-bound travelers have been long aware that their destination is at the center of a geo-political hot zone made dangerous by military operations, terrorism and civil unrest, according to American diplomatic authorities. Last week, the U.S. State Department updated its travel advisories for the region, urging people to “Reconsider Travel” to Israel and to the West Bank due to “terrorism and civil unrest.” The department also maintained its “Do Not Travel” advisory for Gaza, citing “terrorism and armed conflict.”
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