El-Al is in talks”serious” with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to order up to 30 A321neo single-aisle aircraftwhile the Israeli airline has so far operated a 100% Boeing fleet.
A final decision should be made in early 2024, the CEO of El Al said yesterday during a presentation of quarterly results. At list price, El Al’s order would be worth nearly $4 billion. “It is serious !Ben Tal Ganancia said of the talks with Airbus. “We negotiate with both suppliers (Airbus and Boeing, editor’s note). They go back and forth to Israel to present their business cases to us and we review them“.
Since its inception in 1948, El Al has operated a fleet made up entirely of aircraft supplied by US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, due to Israel’s close ties with its main ally, the United States. But the A321neo, which offers more seats and a longer range than its competitor Boeing 737 MAX, continues to gain share of the single-aisle market.
Under a new five-year strategic plan unveiled yesterday, El Al is looking to upgrade its fleet of 46 aircraft currently to 59 by 2028. For short-haul flights, it plans to order new single-aisle aircraft to replace its 24 Boeing 737-800s and 737-900s.
In recent years, El Al has already upgraded its long-haul fleet. It currently owns 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and plans to acquire 22 as it expands its long-haul network to Asia, Australia and North America. It is also refitting four Boeing 777s for transcontinental routes.
