EL AL compensation: how to claim
EL AL is registered in Israel — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- Israel (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Tel Aviv (TLV)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
EL AL is registered in Israel — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from Israel or elsewhere: not covered by either, because EL AL is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How EL AL handles claims
Not an EU or UK carrier, so only the European departure is covered by the Regulation.
Israel has its own Aviation Services Law with compensation broadly modelled on EU261, which can cover the return leg. It is a separate scheme and we do not draft for it.
Security-related delays are a recurring rejection ground here. A genuine security risk is an extraordinary circumstance, but the airline’s own security procedures running long is not.
Europe to Tel Aviv is usually in the 1,500–3,500 km band, so €400 or £350.
What a delay on EL AL is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Tel Aviv (TLV) | 3,589 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Tel Aviv (TLV) → London (LHR) | 3,589 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Tel Aviv (TLV) | 3,284 km | EU261 | €400 |
| Tel Aviv (TLV) → Paris (CDG) | 3,284 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from EL AL, by what happened
- EL AL: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- EL AL: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- EL AL: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- EL AL: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your EL AL flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to EL AL yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
EL AL: common questions
How much compensation can I get from EL AL?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. EL AL is registered in Israel — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does EL AL have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against EL AL?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to EL AL?
EL AL takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd., Customer Relations, Ben Gurion Airport, PO Box 41, 7015001, Israel. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old EL AL flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.