Israel's national carrier, El Al, concluded a special air miles offer for military reservists on Wednesday after overwhelming demand.
Over two days, the airline distributed 1.8 billion air miles to 81,000 reservists, covering 18 million days of service. The offer, which granted 100 frequent flyer points for each day served, was available to reservists called up for more than 100 days of duty.
El Al closed registrations late Tuesday after more than 100,000 users logged onto its website, leaving tens of thousands disappointed as they were unable to claim the free miles.
Due to high demand, the airline expanded eligibility to include reservists who served at least 60 days since the war began, offering them additional benefits, including full cash refunds for canceled flights and free tickets for 20,000 soldiers.
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El Al jet takes off at Ben Gurion International Airport
(Photo: Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP)
The initiative came amid mounting criticism of El Al’s high ticket prices after foreign carriers suspended flights to Israel, leaving the airline among the few offering routes to the U.S. and other key destinations.
Despite the backlash, El Al has posted record-breaking profits. In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported a net profit of $187 million, a 258% increase from $52 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue also soared to $1 billion, up from $695 million in 2023. These results followed a strong second quarter, where net profits reached $147 million, setting another company record.