El Al signs massive deal for new Dreamliners
Israel's national carrier is set to receive nine new 787s of both types over the next five years, in addition to six 787s which will be leased by the airline.
Israel will soon get its first glimpse of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner in blue and white, with El Al, Israel’s national carrier, ordering 15 of the model.
A signing ceremony was held on Thursday morning in the company’s hanger at Ben Gurion Airport, and was attended by Transportation Minister Israel Katz, US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, and El Al CEO David Maimon.
EL AL has purchased nine new Dreamliners within the framework of the deal, both 787-8 and 787-9. (Two of the aircraft will be sold to a leasing company and later leased back.) Concurrently, EL AL will lease another six aircraft from a leasing company, raising to 15 the number of new Dreamliners set to join the fleet.
Ray Conner, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes arrived in Israel in order to take part in the signing ceremony held in honor of the massive deal – the largest ever for the airline – alongside EL AL CEO David Maimon.
“This coming year we will celebrate our 100th anniversary as a company, now over 60 years of that is with you," Conner said. "To say that is something special is a bit of an understatement." He added: “I can’t tell you how much the people at Boeing how grateful they are for you support.”
El Al CEO, David Maimon, also spoke at the event, saying, “It’s a historical day for EL AL the agreement to renew our fleet with 15new Dreamliners over the next five years is a major leap forward in the company’s evolution.”
