Despite a strong reception from travelers in Broward and Palm Beach counties, EL AL, the national airline of Israel, is phasing out its service to Tel Aviv from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport by April of next year, the airport confirmed Tuesday.
“EL AL Israel Airlines has informed the Broward County Aviation Department that it will cease operations at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in the second quarter of 2026,” spokesperson Arlene Satchell said in an emailed statement.
“This is disappointing news for BCAD as EL AL’s service between FLL and Tel Aviv was well-received amongst the traveling public with flights consistently operating on average over 90 percent full,” she added.
EL AL currently operates two flights a week from the Broward County airport. The service started in April of last year with Boeing 787 Dreamliners amid considerable fanfare led by local politicians, business leaders and Israel’s consul general from Miami.
But starting Oct. 26, the airline will cut the frequency to one weekly flight — on Mondays — before ceasing operations at Fort Lauderdale on April 14, 2026. The Friday/Saturday flight now serving Fort Lauderdale will shift to Miami in late October..
The aviation department said it was informed by EL AL that the move was a “business decision” linked to runway lengths at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood. The airport’s longest runway, according to the airline, is insufficient to accept a fully loaded plane with cargo.
“The longer runway at MIA allows us to operate our largest aircraft with a full load of passengers and a full cargo payload year round,” said Simon Newton-Smith, the airline’s senior vice president of the Americas. “Our intention is to grow in South Florida, and the longer runway at MIA will give us this capability.”
The airline said its USA headquarters, which it moved from Manhattan to Margate in 2022, will not be relocated.