In El Al’s original supply deal with Dreamliner aircraft, the company ordered 16 aircraft, 15 of which have already been delivered to the company and are in active service. The 16th plane, a 787-8 model that received the name “Nof HaGalil” has been waiting at Boeing for delivery for a long time. Now we have learned that the plane is expected to be handed over to El Al already this month, on July 31, and immediately after that it will enter service on passenger flights from Tel Aviv.

The plane is expected to be handed over to El Al at the company’s offices in Seattle. As part of the delivery process of new aircraft, a test flight is usually carried out in cooperation with the customer, the airline. After that, the airline confirms the receipt of the plane and will arrive with it in Israel in preparation for its entry into service on passenger flights. The plane is expected to be received at the airport in a traditional water ceremony (water hoses on the plane at festive events).

Although this is a new plane, it will be handed over to El Al when it is already 3-4 years old. The plane has been waiting for delivery for a long time, which was delayed due to the corona epidemic and delays in deliveries of Boeing planes. Just last August, the US government authorized Boeing to deliver the first 787 to a customer since 2021. Boeing stopped the delivery of Dreamliners in 2021 due to deficiencies found in the production line of the 787 along with problems in the quality inspection process of the planes.

The new aircraft will join the fleet of 15 Dreamliners currently operated by El Al, of which 3 are of the same smaller 787-8 model. The new aircraft, like its predecessors in the fleet, will have 235 seats in three service classes: business (20 seats), premium tourists (35 seats) and tourists (180 seats).

While waiting for the delivery of the plane, El Al was already preparing to equip itself with three more Dreamliner planes. Last December, El Al announced that it signed a proposal document with the aircraft manufacturer Boeing for the purchase of a new Boeing 787-9, which will be the company’s 17th Dreamliner. Then, last June, the company announced the realization of an agreement to lease 2 additional 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for 15 years. The planes are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. With the three additional planes, El Al will have a fleet of 19 Dreamliners.