Since the recent ruling by the Attorney General allowing scheduled
flights by private Israeli airlines doesn't seem to preclude Shabbos
flights, El Al Israel Airlines has petitioned for complete abolition
of the Shabbos flight ban.
In an attempt to ward off this development, UTJ's MK Rabbi Avrohom
Lazerson met with El Al Director Yoel Feldsuh to express grave trepidation.
Refuting El Al's longstanding claim that the Shabbos ban costs them
an annual $50 million in revenue, Rabbi Lazerson cited statistics
to show that El Al's gain of the shomer Shabbos clientele
more than makes up for this loss. Feldsuh also maintained that the
ban on Shabbos flights is already being violated because of recent
permission for cargo flights on Shabbos. Rabbi Lazerson promised to
promptly address this matter with the pertinent authorities.
Rabbi Lazerson later met with Transportation Minister, Shaul Yahalom,
to discuss the loophole presented by new flight slots which have been
awarded to private airlines. It is feared that the private companies
will not be bound by the existing ban on Shabbos flights. Yahalom
promised to use every means at his disposal to prevent this.
Allaying Rabbi Lazerson's fears that the government will be unable
to force compliance on private companies, the Minister responded with
an unequivocal promise that licenses will be granted only on condition
that the ban on Shabbos flights is observed.
