Why doesn't EL AL fly here into Australia

[Debra Rettie]

Hi,

Does anyone know why EL AL does not fly here into Australia?

[Andrew C]

As i understand it EL AL security requires to have their own weapons the Australian gvt would not agree to that.

[Matt_L]

Indeed,
Andrew has it spot on, that is the main reason.

[Montague S]

I hear that our Jewish friends prefer Emirates.

[Tim C]

Originally Posted by Debra Rettie

Hi,

Does anyone know why EL AL does not fly here into Australia?

Dear Debra et al,

I am not quite sure on why EL AL et al do not fly to Australia. However im sure ELAL enthusiast Granny Smith from this board will be able to offer a insight onto their reasoning for not coming here.

Cheers

[Matt_L]

Funny one Montague.
Actually quick q,
If you have Israeli stamp on passport in many arab countries you cannot get entry into due to this, anyone know if any place within UAE is like this?
not that id ever visit DXB or UAE-

[Grant Smith]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Dear Debra et al,

I am not quite sure on why EL AL et al do not fly to Australia. However im sure ELAL enthusiast Granny Smith from this board will be able to offer a insight onto their reasoning for not coming here.

Cheers

Thanks Tim, but Andrew has already nailed the answer on the head.

Originally Posted by Matt_L

Funny one Montague.
Actually quick q,
If you have Israeli stamp on passport in many arab countries you cannot get entry into due to this, anyone know if any place within UAE is like this?
not that id ever visit DXB or UAE-

Matt_L,

What countries would these be Matt? I've never heard such an obsurd thing occuring before and as I understand, it does not occur in DXB or AUH.

I am curious to hear your reasoning Matt.

[Will T]

Grant, I'm not sure what the state of play is at the moment, but certainly for many years there were restrictions on entering Jordan and Syria if one had an Israeli stamp in their passport. Tourists were often advised to either sequence their itinerary such that they visited Israel last, or alternatively to have a piece of paper stamped by Israeli customs in lieu of their passport.

I don't know what the current situation is, it's been a few years since I've been to that part of the world. But I would be highly surprised if the UAE placed any such restrictions on its visitors.

[Grant Smith]

Originally Posted by Will Tidmarsh

Grant, I'm not sure what the state of play is at the moment, but certainly for many years there were restrictions on entering Jordan and Syria if one had an Israeli stamp in their passport.

Would that be along similar lines to the "security" questions asked by LY security staff i.e they notice a middle eastern countries stamp in your passport and you're then asked 20 questions as to why you were there?

[Montague S]

Originally Posted by Grant Smith

Would that be along similar lines to the "security" questions asked by LY security staff i.e they notice a middle eastern countries stamp in your passport and you're then asked 20 questions as to why you were there?

mate...they ask you 20 questions when your photographing their planes! that's been a long standing tradition with our Israeli friends. Yes, certain Arab neighbours will NOT let you into their country if you have Israeli or certain Arab Israeli border-crossing stamps in your passport.

UAE also has it as do most Muslim nations with the exception of Jordan, Iran, Egypt & Turkey...but our Jewish & Arab friends have one thing in common which could see it lifted in the UAE...diamonds!

and yes you read right, Iran, but only for Iranian Jews! Iran has 2 or more flights a year between there & Israel so its Jewish population can visit family and friends and vv.