The Big Ben clock tower in London
Photo: AFP
Monarch Airlines launched low-cost flights from Eilat to London that are so below market price they may even bring down the prices of its competitors.
Monarch had already established attractive flights going the other direction—from Luton Airport in London to Ben Gurion Airport and to Ovda Airport—in December 2015. The route was mainly popular among British tourists wishing to escape the dreary winter in their homeland for a bit of Middle East sunshine. The company soon discovered, though, that many Israelis were looking to visit London during the same winter months and take advantage of the holiday season’s sales.
A further reason that allowed Monarch to lower their prices was the fact that Ovda Airport and the passengers passing through are no longer required to pay any tolls, including port taxes, starting from the month of October. The Ministry of Tourism is also incentivizing airlines to pass through Ovda by giving them 45 Euros per tourist landing there.
Monarch’s flights from Ovda to London will operate until April 2017 on Thursdays, leaving Ovada ar 18:05, landing at Luton Airport at 21:45 and costing the reported $45. Flights from Luton will leave at 09:45, land at Ovda 16:55 and cost $136. Taken together, a roundtrip will cost $181.