The management of El Al, Israel’s national airline, on Sunday evening reached an understanding with striking pilots that has brought an end to the strike.

The understanding between the sides was reached with the help of the Histadrut Labor Federation.

On Thursday, the company’s pilots staged a surprise job walk-off, stranding hundreds of passengers at the Ben Gurion Airport and causing several flights to be cancelled.

“El Al management did everything it could to minimize the damage to customers by consolidating flights, increasing equipment, leasing aircraft and transferring some passengers to other airlines, as the company puts the interests of passengers in mind,” El Al said in a statement Sunday evening.

“El Al regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers,” the statement added.

Last year, workers of the El Al and Arkia airlines went on a short strike to protest the signing of the “Open Skies” agreement with Europe.