An in-flight synagogue: new perk for El Al passengers?

The difference, he said, will lay in the design of the fuselage of the aircraft.

The Airbus planes have a space on the lower deck that other airlines use for other purposes, such as a first-class bar or a business-class lounge.

For El Al, he said, the European consortium has designed a synagogue capable of holding 10 to 12 worshippers, standing up or sitting down. According to the Airbus engineers, the ark of the synagogue could be moved on a track, so that it would always face Jerusalem.

The proposed synagogue could solve a perennial dilemma for El Al. In a recent interview, flight services director Huli Raz conceded that in-flight minyans continue to be a problem. For some Jews, she said, it is very important to pray, while other passengers find the situation a nuisance.