TEL AVIV— Russia has reportedly rejected El Al’s (LY) plans to launch flights between Israel and St. Petersburg (LED), with the decision allegedly linked to tensions between Moscow and Jerusalem over the operation of Russian carrier Aeroflot.
According to N12, Russian authorities blocked El Al’s proposed route as a form of retaliation after Aeroflot was prevented from operating flights to Israel.
The development comes as El Al continues to adjust its Russia network following the suspension of its Tel Aviv-Moscow service.
Russia Rejects El Al’s New Route
El Al had sought to establish a new connection between Israel and St. Petersburg as an alternative to its suspended Moscow operations.
However, Russia reportedly rejected the proposal, with N12 characterizing the decision as an attempt to “punish” Israel.
The airline’s efforts to restore and expand connectivity with Russia come after its Tel Aviv-Moscow route was suspended in June because of the security situation surrounding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The proposed St. Petersburg service could have provided El Al with another link to the Russian market while the Moscow route remained suspended. Instead, the reported rejection has further complicated the Israeli carrier’s plans for Russia.
Aeroflot Dispute
The reported Russian decision is linked to a separate dispute involving Aeroflot, Russia’s largest airline.
The carrier was prevented from landing in Israel after sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries affected Russian companies.
Those restrictions have contributed to difficulties for Russian airlines seeking to maintain international operations.
Russia’s reported response against El Al suggests that the dispute has extended beyond Aeroflot’s own operations and could affect wider aviation connectivity between the two countries.
Despite the disruption, another Russian airline, Red Wings, continues to operate a route connecting Israel and Russia, according to N12, JPost reported.
The continued Red Wings service means some direct connectivity remains available between the two countries, although options have become more limited following the suspension of El Al’s Moscow flights.
Ukraine Attacks Disrupt Flights
The aviation situation has also been affected by the wider security environment created by the Russia-Ukraine war.
In June, Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia prompted authorities to ground flights at major Moscow airports, resulting in more than 500 flight delays.
The disruption demonstrated how military developments can quickly affect civilian aviation across Russia.
Airport closures and airspace restrictions have repeatedly forced airlines to alter schedules when security risks increase.
Kyiv described the drone strikes as a response to a Russian attack that damaged a nearly 1,000-year-old monastery in the Ukrainian city.
For El Al, the reported rejection of its St. Petersburg proposal adds another challenge to its Russia operations.
With its Moscow service suspended and the proposed St. Petersburg route blocked, the Israeli airline’s ability to expand direct connectivity with Russia remains restricted.
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