The Sun Door airline from the El Al group launched its first flight to Istanbul in Turkey this morning. In the summer of 2023, Sandor will operate 4 weekly flights on this route.
About 15 years ago, El Al flights to Turkey were stopped due to a dispute over Israel’s security requirements. During these years, El Al protested the inequality and fairness that this nest was operated only by Turkish airlines. Now the line is renewed against the background of the rapprochement of relations between Turkey and Israel and in light of the growing demand of the Israeli audience.
In honor of the maiden flight, the headrests of the airplane seats were decorated with a special coating with the greeting “Welcome” in Hebrew, Turkish, and English.
The maiden flight was led by the service managers on the flight, the brothers Liat and Jackie Elazar, second generation El Al employees. Their father, the late Avraham, was the manager of the El Al station in Istanbul in 1978-80. In 1980, he was murdered while performing his duties, by terrorists who shot at his car as he was leaving the airport. Sun Dor chose Liat and Jackie Elazar to take part in this flight, as a sign of appreciation and honoring their father and family.
Jackie Elazar excitedly announced on the flight: “Dear passengers, we are happy to host you today on Sun Dor’s debut flight to Istanbul. My name is Jackie Elazar and I am the service manager on this special flight. Along with me on the team is the service manager on the flight, Liat Elazar, my sister. This is a flight exciting for us. Our father Avraham Elazar was the manager of the El Al station in Istanbul and in 1980 he was killed there in a terrorist attack. We are full of pride and honor to take part in this historic flight and are happy about the renewal of the flight line to Istanbul. We wish you a pleasant flight and an enjoyable vacation in Istanbul.”
The CEO of Sun Dor, Gal Gershon, said that: “We are happy to mark today the opening of the line to Istanbul, Turkey, a favorite destination of the Israeli audience.
The fact that today’s flight is full indicates that, along with the large offer of flights to the destination, the Israeli public was waiting for the return of the Israeli companies and expected the return of the El Al group to the flight line to Istanbul. We embrace Liat and Jackie, the flight attendants, the children of the late Avraham Elazar, and are excited for the opportunity to honor their father’s memory and share with them in this historic flight.”
