El Al Belly Cargo Expansion: New Routes to LA, Miami, Tokyo, and Phuket

The momentum in the logistics industry continues. El Al's cargo division recently announced the expansion of its belly cargo operations on passenger flights, adding four additional key destinations to its rescue and reinforcement network.

Starting this coming Sunday (March 22, 2026), Los Angeles, Miami, Phuket, and Tokyo will join the approved shipping map for both import and export activities. These destinations join New York, London, and Bangkok, which were approved earlier, thereby creating a broad "logistics bridge" to the world's largest markets—the United States and the Far East.

Expanding Logistics Map: A Comprehensive Response for the Economy

The opening of routes to the U.S. West Coast (Los Angeles) and Florida (Miami), alongside new gateways to the East (Tokyo and Phuket), provides a critical solution for importers and exporters who have had to deal with near-total paralysis over the past two weeks.

The Israeli Federation of Forwarders and Customs Clearing Agents welcomed the rapid update. According to industry sources, the addition of these destinations is the result of heavy pressure exerted by the organization, led by Amir Shani, and the understanding of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) and the Ministry of Economy that every available "belly" of a passenger aircraft must be utilized to prevent irreversible damage to the Israeli economy.

Updated status as of Sunday (March 22):

* Please note: As of Sunday (March 22), there is no approval for the transport of hazardous materials on these flights.

El Al reiterates that due to the security situation and operational sensitivity of these flights, there is an absolute prohibition on the transport of hazardous materials.

Furthermore, in light of the massive demand that has built up in the shipping "pipeline" over the last two weeks, El Al is working to reinforce manpower at the terminals to manage the expected congestion as the expanded network opens.