EL AL Israel Airlines Issues Boarding Passes via Mobile Phone

Tel Aviv, Israel – June 30, 2009– EL AL, the Israeli national airline this week announced it's plans to roll-out a new boarding pass system using state of the art barcode technology and mobile devices. An electronic barcode boarding pass is sent directly to passengers' cell phones or PDA's thereby allowing them to check in within minutes instead of waiting in long queues.

By shortening waiting time and increasing check-in efficiency ELAL believe their flights to Israel and around the world can save the company $1.5 billion per year. At Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, the technology has been in trial for some time, only now has the project passed quality control tests to warrant a full roll-out. "We are ready with the cellular service that many airlines around the world use," said David Maimon, El Al's senior vice president of customer service.

Passengers using the new service will receive a barcode directly to their mobile phone, PDA's or laptop. The barcode will include full ticket, passenger and flight information. Customers already used to online checkin will enjoy this extension to an already popular service, as specifically passengers traveling with only carry-on luggage will be able to bypass the long queues and head directly to security and then to the boarding gate, where the barcode will be scanned from their mobile device before boarding the flight to Israel or one of the many other international routes flown by the airline.

Passengers traveling with non carry-on baggage are to be directed to a special express line to check the luggage. From there, they go straight to security thereby avoiding having to wait in line with other passengers not using advanced barcode boarding pass services.

A spokesman from IATA (International Air Transport Association) said the switch from magnetic boarding cards to mobile phone barcode boarding passes is set to globally save airlines over $1.5 billion per year in staff and administration costs.

At the IAA (Israel Airports Authority), preparations are in place for Ben Gurion Airport to switch to the new technology, as part of the implementation, they have installed barcode scanners at every departure gates. The total investment in the switch-over is set to reach NIS 1 million ($260,000).

About EL AL
In 2009, ELAL Celebrates 61 years of service as Israel's National Airline Carrier. Across the World, EL AL flies to more than 40 destinations from Israel. The airline has annual revenues of approximately $1.93 billion and carries more than 1.8 million passengers every year.

EL AL embodies Israel's values of innovation and caring and the promise of a genuine Israeli welcome. Your Israel experience begins with EL AL with warm Israeli hospitality and the highest trained Israeli pilots will fly you to Israel and back while you enjoy enhanced in-flight dining with freshly prepared healthy meals. EL AL. It's not just an airline. It's Israel.