Until now, passengers had to pay up to $20 per kilogram.
Good news for cyclists: El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) will allow passengers to take their bicycles on flights without paying an excess baggage charge. The airline will subsidize the fee. Until now, passengers had to pay up to $20 per kilogram, which could amount to over $100 each way.
El Al says that over 1,000 Israelis use their own bicycles to take bicycle trips around the world each year. Most of these trips are for lengthy challenging trips, for which cyclists prefer their own bicycles. Many other cyclists hire bicycles locally, and are often forced to use heavy, urban bicycles that are not adapted for the cyclist’s characteristics.
El Al believes that the option of carrying a bicycle at no charge will encourage Israeli passengers to take their bicycles on their vacations, and might also encourage foreign tourists to bring their bicycles to Israel. Cycling is among the fastest growing sports in the world.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 7, 2007
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