Following the landing of a Houthi-fired missile near the runways at Ben Gurion International Airport, the stock prices of Israeli carriers El Al and Israir saw a notable surge.
Business outlet The Marker reports that Kenny Rosenberg—a U.S.-based businessman and majority owner of El Al—gained roughly NIS 250 million as El Al’s stock climbed by 10% over a two-day period.
During the same time frame, Rami Levy, who holds the controlling interest in Israir, saw his wealth grow by around NIS 15 million, thanks to a 7% uptick in Israir’s share value.
This spike in value came after numerous international airlines announced that they would be suspending flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport indefinitely. That decision significantly reduced air traffic to Israel, opening a gap in available service.
As a result, thousands of travelers found themselves stuck abroad. Some were already at airports en route to Israel when they were notified that their flights had been canceled.
The jump in value for the Israeli airlines is largely due to the sharp rise in demand for their flights, as they are now among the only carriers still maintaining normal operations at Ben Gurion. El Al and Israir, which serve major hubs across Europe, Asia, and the United States, are experiencing a major boost in bookings—especially from passengers scrambling to adjust after foreign airlines pulled out.
{Matzav.com Israel}