El Al plans 1,500 more layoffs, selling 26 planes

The streamlining plan will see the Israeli airline stressing the North American market and cutting routes to Europe. The management of El Al Israel Airlines has presented drastic changes designed to cope with the financial crisis caused by the ongoing Covid pandemic. Management wants to sell up to 26 planes and lay-off 1,500 employees. El Al currently has a fleet of 45 planes and management would like to see the fleet shrink to 29 aircraft or less. As part of this streamlining, El Al will reportedly stress the North American market and halt flights on some routes between Israel and Europe, leaving it with its core destinations in Europe. As a result, most of the planes that will be sold will likely be the narrower bodied Boeing 737s. In addition to reducing its fleet and routes to Europe, El Al is seeking to lay off an additional 1,500 employees. The airline currently has 4,000 employees, including 1,400 staff on unpaid leave until October 31, and after laying off 2,000 employees over the past year.<br/>