Israeli carrier EL AL has released details about its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet as part of its fleet renewal program.
The airline will take delivery of the first of 16 new Boeing 787s in August. That aircraft is scheduled to operate on European routes starting at the end of October, with progressive integration into EL AL’s long-haul network across North America and the Far East thereafter.
“I am proud to announce that following a year and a half of extensive preparations by the EL AL team, we are entering a new era,” said David Maimon, president and chief executive officer of EL AL. “The arrival of the new 787 aircraft marks a milestone in our renewal efforts and will transform the customer experience across all classes. We remain committed to EL AL’s vision: to lead Israel’s aviation market and be the preferred choice for travelers to and from Israel by delivering high-quality, uncompromising service.”
The Dreamliner cabin will introduce a new Recaro business-class seat that converts into a lie-flat bed, along with a new premium-economy section offering 38 inches of legroom. The economy cabin will follow a 3-3-3 configuration and include 222 seats with 31 inches of legroom and five inches of recline for most seats; 15 economy seats will feature 30 inches of legroom.
In-flight entertainment systems will be supplied by Panasonic, and high-speed Wi-Fi service is planned for the 787 fleet in 2018. EL AL expects the Dreamliners to gradually replace its Boeing 747-400 and 767-300 aircraft through 2020.