BOSTON – The EL AL Israel Airlines (EL AL) and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) celebrated the beginning of nonstop Tel Aviv to Boston service as the inaugural flight arrived at Boston Logan International Airport earlier this morning. Today, EL AL flies nonstop to five destinations in North America - New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Toronto and now Logan. Boston was competing with Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Washington D.C. for the flight.

“The opportunities that this will provide for the Commonwealth and the region are great,” said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. “Business and leisure travel to Israel will stimulate our economy and strengthen our educational, cultural, and technological competitiveness globally.”

To celebrate the new route, a ceremonial raising of the Israeli flag will take place tonight before the first flight departs. Israel’s Consul General Yehuda Yaakov and high ranking Massachusetts government officials will witness this historic occasion along with EL AL President David Maimon, the Chairman and owner of EL AL, other Israeli visitors and passengers travelling on the first flight.

“Logan Airport is a gateway to the world and this new non-stop service to Tel Aviv will bolster the United States’ economic ties with Israel and beyond,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “We look forward to our new partnership with EL AL Israel Airlines and to the jobs and cultural and economic benefits this partnership will create.”

Israel’s national airline, EL AL will fly the route using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 218 seats, including 22 business class seats, three times weekly from Boston to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport. EL AL’s fleet is exclusively Boeing aircraft. More than 67,000 passengers traveled between Boston and Tel Aviv last year, an increase of 21 percent since 2010.

EL AL has been working alongside their codeshare partnership Jet Blue. The Boston-Tel Aviv route is expected to carry a significant number of connections via Boston on Jet Blue.

The Boston-Tel Aviv market has grown 16 percent in the last three years and Massachusetts and Israel share strong ties in the high tech, life sciences, biotech, finance, clean energy and cybersecurity industries. Massachusetts’ higher education and medical institutions bring people from around the world to Boston Logan.

Tel Aviv, known as the cultural heart of Israel, has a reputation for culture, fashion, nightlife, restaurants and cafes. The gorgeous beaches offer the perfect balance to the bustling urban nature of city life. This city is famous for its Bauhaus architecture, laid back cafes, thriving markets, boutiques, fine dining, world class nightclubs, street art and beautiful sunsets.

To book the only nonstop flights from Boston to Israel, travelers can visit www.elal.com, call EL AL reservations at 800-223-6700 or any travel agent. Learn more about EL AL news, special promotions and events in Israel plus useful travel tips by joining Facebook (ELALIsraelAirlinesUSA) and Twitter(@ELALUSA).

About EL AL Israel Airlines

Celebrating more than 65 years of service, EL AL, Israel's national airline, offers the most nonstop flights between New York (JFK/Newark) and Israel as well as the only nonstop service from Los Angeles and Boston, starting June 2015. Worldwide, EL AL flies to more than 35 destinations from Israel and serves dozens of other destinations throughout the world (including the USA) via partnerships with many other leading carriers, including JetBlue Airways. Only EL AL has first class service on nonstop flights between the U.S.A. and Israel. The airline has annual revenue of about $2 billion and carries close to 4 million passengers worldwide every year.

EL AL embodies Israel's values of innovation and the promise of a genuine Israeli welcome.

EL AL. It's not just an airline. It's Israel.

About Boston Logan International Airport

Boston Logan, a short distance from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 76 domestic and 48 international destinations and in 2014 handled 31.6 million passengers. Boston Logan is served by two public transit lines and is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, public transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. The airport generates $13 billion in total economic impact each year.

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