El Al introduces new Boeing 737-900 jet
National airline, which operates all-Boeing fleet of 40 planes, pays total of $430 million for eight 737-900s
Video courtesy of jn1.tv
El Al Israel Airlines, which operates an all-Boeing fleet of nearly 40 planes, previously ordered six 737-900s, saying it had paid $320 million to buy them. The airline paid a total of $430 million for all eight planes.
Boeing delivered the first of those planes from its headquarters in Seattle to the Israeli flag carrier, which was established in 1948, on October 9.
Aircraft interior (Photo: Sivan Farag)
The new aircraft will be used on the company's fights to European destinations and replace the 757 and 767-200 planes used by the company for years.
The other seven planes are expected to arrive by 2016, reinforcing the 737 fleet which currently includes 18 aircraft.
"This order is the latest chapter in a partnership between Boeing and El Al that stretches back to the foundation of Israel, and it is a sense of enormous pride to the entire company that such a prestigious airline continues to operate an all-Boeing fleet," said Todd Nelp, vice president of sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
El Al CEO Elyezer Shkedy said during the plane inauguration ceremony that "the new aircraft mark the highlight of the wave of innovation, new supplies and renewal of the company's fleet."
