El Al has agreed to purchase up to 31 Boeing 737 Max
aircraft in a deal valued at up to $2.5 billion, the carrier announced
Thursday, adding that the agreement is the largest procurement contract in El
Al’s history.
The carrier will purchase 20 aircraft valued at $1.5
billion, with options for 11 more planes. The deal follows El Al’s recent
agreement to purchase up to nine additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
El Al plans to use the new aircraft to replace the carrier’s
current fleet of narrowbody Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 planes, with deliveries
expected to being in 2028. The deal also will enable El Al to integrate new
technologies and boost seat capacity, which “are designed to upgrade the
service and flight experience, while prioritizing environmental sustainability
in line with current global ESG standards,” according to the carrier. The
Boeing 737 Max reduces fuel use and emissions and is quieter than the planes it
will be replacing.
