El Al welcomes first Dreamliner
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El Al has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The new long-haul jet, a 787-9 model, touched down in Tel Aviv this week following a non-stop, 10,856km delivery flight from Boeing’s factory in Washington state.
The Israeli national carrier is planning to introduce a total of 16 Dreamliners, including both smaller 787-8s and larger 787-9s, into its fleet. These will gradually replace the 747s and 767s on El Al’s long-haul routes.
“The arrival of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a day of pride and joy to all of us at El Al,” said the airline’s CEO, David Maimon. “It is the highlight in the ongoing renewal of the El Al fleet, which started a year and a half ago when we decided to order 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. We are happy to embark on a new journey with our first Dreamliner.
“The arrival of the new airplanes will create a revolution in the customer experience. We have set a very high standard of service and product excellence in order to maintain our position as the first and preferred choice for passengers, travelling both to and from Israel,” he added.
Made using composite materials, the Dreamliner is lighter, quieter and more fuel-efficient than other twin-aisle aircraft. El Al’s 787-9 will have a capacity of 282 passengers – 32 in business class, 28 in premium economy and 222 in economy.
El Al has been an all-Boeing carrier since taking delivery of its first new Boeing aircraft in 1961. It currently operates a fleet of more than 40 jets, including 737s, 747s, 767s and 777s.
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