El Al Buys 4 Boeing 777s, investing USD$540M

The passenger aircraf will be equipped with Trent 800s Rolls-Royce engines and used on medium and long-haul routes. Delivery is scheduled for 2012 and 2013
 
El Al Israel Airlines announced last Sunday it had ordered four Boeing 777-200ER planes for USD$540 million. The announcement was made in a filing the airline made to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange cited by press reports that it has finalized its decision to purchase four 777-200Ers.
 
Delivery is scheduled for 2012 (three units) and 2013 (one unit) The passenger aircraft with 279 seats will be equipped with Trent 800s Rolls-Royce engines and used on medium and long-haul routes.
 
The carrier said it would have the option to convert its purchase to 777-300 jets, which have 350-400 seats, with a decision to be taken by the year end.
 
El Al CEO Haim Romano said following the announcement that "The purchase of additional planes is intended to improve the airline's competitiveness as foreign airlines increase their operations here and as demand grows for El Al's long and medium-haul flights".
 
The airline recently purchased two 777s which are used on flights to the United States and Asia.
 
In the summer of 2008, El Al is expected to take delivery of two short-haul Boeing 737-800 planes with another three arriving in 2009.