After weeks of frustration: This morning (Sunday), a class action lawsuit was filed in the Lod District Court for over 2.5 million shekels against El Al, claiming that it violated its obligation to automatically and free of charge place its passengers on rescue flights after flights were canceled following the closure of airspace.
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The lawsuit was filed by attorney Uri Sphrach, who sought to represent all customers whose flights were canceled starting June 13. He claims that, despite registering for an emergency flight, he was forced to repurchase a ticket - at a price of $2,411 - after El Al opened the sale to the general public, contrary to its announcements.
The lawsuit, filed through attorneys Aharon Topper and Gal Rosenfeld of the Topper-Rosenfeld law firm, claims that El Al repeatedly promised customers that the seating would be done "automatically and at no additional cost" - but in reality, while thousands of passengers were waiting to be seated, the company opened the sale to the general public - and left its customers off the plane.
It was further alleged that when the plaintiff tried to contact El Al's service center, he waited for long hours without an answer.
He said that it became clear to him that if he did not immediately purchase a new ticket at an emergency price, his return to Israel could be delayed indefinitely.
The lawsuit points to tens of thousands of passengers who registered for rescue flights, and who were harmed, it claims, by El Al's conduct: "The group members were left stranded abroad, were required to pay again, and in effect lost their right that was promised to them in advance."
The plaintiffs state that El Al's conduct "seriously harmed the autonomy and consumer rights of its passengers," and call on the court to order appropriate compensation.
El Al's response: "The company will study the request upon receipt and respond accordingly to the court."
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