Boeing, EL AL Israel Airlines finalize order for two more 737-900ERs

By BA Staff

El Al Boeing 737-800. Image by AF1621 courtesy Wikimedia

Boeing and El Al Israel Airlines have finalized an order for two additional Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes.

The order comes just two weeks after the Israeli flag-carrier took delivery of its first 737-900ER. This order brings the total number of 737-900ERs ordered by EL AL to eight.

Elyezer Shkedy, president and chief executive officer of El Al Israel Airlines said:

"This decision by EL AL to purchase two more 737-900ER aircraft demonstrates our good relationship with Boeing. We are committed to provide our passengers on our medium and short-haul routes with the highest quality product and service, allowing EL AL to continue to be the first choice now and in the future."

The order was finalized at a special event hosted by EL AL at the carrier's base at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport to celebrate the recent arrival of EL AL's first 737-900ER. The Boeing 737-900ER will complement EL AL's existing fleet of Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s.

 Todd Nelp, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

"We delivered EL AL's first 737-900ER earlier this month and are confident it will fit seamlessly into its short and medium-haul fleet, providing greater flexibility for the carrier's operations across Europe. 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."

EL AL operates an all-Boeing fleet of nearly 40 airplanes including Next-Generation 737s, 747-400s, 767s and 777s and serves more than 40 destinations worldwide from its base in Tel Aviv.