El Al confirmed on June 11, 2024, that it is in exclusive talks with Boeing and leasing companies to order around 30 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The exact number of aircraft has not been specified.
In a post published on LinkedIn, El Al’s Chief Commercial Officer, Shlomi Zafrany, confirmed that the Israeli flag carrier remains committed to its long-term growth plan despite the ongoing conflict in the region.
The announcement follows in the recapitalization of the airline, which raised $140 million through the issuance of new shares and warrants in April 2024.
International air traffic to and from Israel is recovering after having plummeted by more than 70% in the weeks following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, in the south of the country and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
El Al has long been an operator of earlier Boeing 737 versions. As of June 2024, the Israeli carrier has a fleet of 24 Boeing 737 NG aircraft (16 of the –800 version and eight of the –900ER one).