El Al has revised its Boeing 787 order book, converting existing commitments into four 787-10 aircraft and securing options for additional jets as part of a plan to expand capacity on long-haul routes.
The agreement involves converting three previously ordered 787-9s into the larger 787-10 variant, along with the exercise of an option for a fourth aircraft. The Israeli airline also retains options for up to six more Dreamliners for delivery in the early 2030s, which could take its total 787 fleet to as many as 34 aircraft.
El Al currently operates 17 Dreamliners—four 787-8s and 13 787-9s—and is due to receive two additional leased units, bringing the fleet to 19 in the near term. The type already forms the backbone of its long-haul network, replacing older widebodies and supporting routes to North America, Europe and Asia.
See also: EL AL confirms order for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX jets
The introduction of the 787-10 points to a shift toward higher-capacity aircraft on core routes. While the 787-9 in El Al’s configuration seats 271 passengers across three classes, the larger -10 can accommodate around 300 or more, depending on layout, offering a significant increase in seat supply with slightly lower range.
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El Al’s widebody fleet still includes six 777-200 aircraft, each configured with 313 seats, although these jets are expected to be phased out over time as newer aircraft arrive.
The airline said the revised agreement, valued at about $1.5 billion depending on configuration and pricing, is intended to align fleet capacity with expected growth in passenger traffic at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport over the coming years.
