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El Al to launch budget carrier

A new budget airline called UP is being established in Israel by flag carrier El Al.

UP will run 50 flights a week from five destinations in Europe to Israel – Berlin, Budapest, Kiev, Prague and Larnaca.

Fares are due to start from $69 (£42) one way from March 30, 2014. Tickets and the UP website will be available in December.

The airline will allow customers to select and pay for only the services they wish to use, and will have two classes – economy and economy plus.

The launch of UP follows the Israeli government signing an open skies agreement with the European Union in April.

The implementation of the agreement will increase the volume of low-cost flights into Israel.

El Al president and chief executive Elyezer Shkedy said: “Today we are launching a new and dynamic aviation brand – UP, which brings a declaration of renewal and addresses the changing needs of the aviation world.

“We are joining the international aviation trend and the major airlines, while being attentive to our customers’ various preferences.

“The UP brand allows the customer to build the product and choose what he is paying for. 
I am convinced that this move will improve our competitive abilities, expand our customer reach and offer a better response to the various changing preferences, while offering flights at lower costs.”

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