The Israeli national flag carrier, El Al, has confirmed its plan to replace its fleet of 737 aircraft with up to 31 737 MAX aircraft by finalizing a deal with Boeing.
Only Boeing aircraft are in the carrier’s fleet. Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including the 787-8 and 787-9 variants in addition to 777-200s, are used by the airline on long-haul flights. The Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) family, notably the 737-800 and 737-900ER models, is what EL AL uses for shorter distances.
“This is an important turning point for EL AL, enabling us to provide our clients with the best technological and service experience in the business,” EL AL Israel Airlines CEO Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia stated in a press statement. “The long-term procurement plan’s implementation, which started earlier this year with the purchase of an extra 787 Dreamliners and resulted in the current deal, demonstrates our commitment to the Israeli public and the state once again.”
Earlier this year, EL AL started to replace its fleet with the acquisition of three more 787-9 Dreamliners, with options to buy six more. The airline intends to lease two additional 787-9 aircraft in the upcoming years in addition to accepting delivery of a new aircraft this year.
