Brazil welcome the launch of direct El Al starts nonstop flights to Israel

El Al made its nonstop debut flight between Israel and Brazil, its first new destination in 10 years
 
El Al's Boeing 777-220 aircraft fly nonstop to Brazil on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in a route to take 14 hours, 45 minutes.
 
El Al CEO Haim Romano said the new operations would boost the already rising phenomenon of Israeli tourism in South America, as well as serve the large Jewish communities on the continent, including Brazil's 120,000 Jews.
 
From Sao Paulo, passengers are able to connect to other destinations throughout Brazil and South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Equador, Peru and Uruguay.
 
Romano calls the service a "bridge between Latin America and the Holy Land”.
 
Israel's tourism ministry says more than 31,000 Brazilians visited last year, up 55% from 2007. In all, an estimated 200,000 South Americans travel to Israel each year.