Following the terror attack in Burgos, Israel's Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov flew to Bulgaria this morning. He headed a delegation of 20 senior figures from Israel's tourism industry seeking to maintain friendly relations and mutual tourism between the countries in the wake of last week's carnage in which five Israeli tourists were killed by a suicide bomber, as well as a Bulgarian Muslim bus driver.
However, yesterday it became clear that today's scheduled El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) flight from Ben Gurion Airport to Sofia was fully booked. Consequently, El Al asked passengers to relinquish their reservations in favor of the minister and his entourage by offering them compensation in the form of the value of their ticket plus a gift. El Al said in response that overbooked flights was routine especially during the summer peak season.
The Ministry of Tourism said in response, "Nobody was forced to vacate their seats. Those who agreed and responded to El Al's request received compensation. El Al did not do it for the minister but always behaves the same in instances of overbooking."
El Al added, "In light of the request from the State of Israel and the importance of the visit especially at this time El Al made every effort to let the delegation of tourism heads leave. It should be stressed that overbooking is known in the airline business, especially in the tourist season. As happened in similar instances, El Al compensated the passengers who agreed to give up their places and fly at a later date."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 23, 2012
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