El Al To Buy The Boeing 737 MAX

El Al Israel Airlines will purchase the Boeing 737 MAX family of aircraft as part of efforts to renew its narrowbody fleet.

This order has been a substantial time in the making and was delayed following a conflict outbreak in the region.

Once finalised at the list price, the purchase would be over USD 2 billion. However, airlines typically acquire substantial discounts when purchasing new aircraft.

Deliveries for the 737 MAX jets will commence in 2027, and following negotiations, the 30 or so aircraft will be delivered over a multi-year period.

The latest order is a win for Boeing, which has been under pressure from regulators and customers following another shakey start to the calendar year.

Furthermore, the deal can be considered another win for the American planemaker, with El Al, reportedly considering the Airbus A320neo family and the A321neo specifically for some time.

In 2023, Reuters reported that El Al was in serious talks with Airbus to purchase the A321neo as part of an effort to renew its short-haul fleet.

If El Al had progressed with Airbus over the 737 MAX, it would’ve represented a shift in the company’s fleet model, with it now being a Boeing operator.

In 2023, it seemed Airbus was the frontrunner for the contract, but circumstances can change, and ultimately, El Al had put forward RFPs to both manufacturers. Therefore, the RFP would have allowed Boeing to put forward their best deal for consideration.

Fleet renewal at El Al will be important as their 737 fleet now averages an age of 16.6 years. The 737-800s average some 18.8 years and are thus the oldest narrowbody aircraft in the fleet.

The 737 MAXs will aid fleet renewal long into the future and look to boost efficiency for the company across its short-haul network.