EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd. has announced the arrival of its 16th Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which landed in Israel on the morning of Monday 31 July after a direct flight from the Boeing factory in Seattle, WA, using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The historic flight marks EL AL’s first use of SAF and signifies the company’s global leadership in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases.

30% of the total fuel used in the flight from Seattle to Tel Aviv was SAF. SAF is chemically similar to traditional fossil jet fuel but is produced from sources such as carbon in the air. In June 2023, EL AL enlisted in the IATA Environmental Assessment Program (IEnvA), which assesses the commitment of the world’s leading airlines to improving their environmental and sustainability performance.  EL AL’s participation in the certification programme serves as another example of the company’s environmental commitment.

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The aircraft’s arrival was celebrated with a water salute ceremony, attended by EL AL CEO, Dina Ben Tal Ganancia; Nof HaGalil’s Mayor, Mr. Ronen Plot; President of Boeing Israel, Mr. Ido Nehushtan; Mr. Kenny Rozenberg; and Mr. Daryl Hagler.

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Dina Ben Tal Ganancia, CEO of EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd. said: “Welcoming a new Dreamliner jet is always an exciting event for us. The historic arrival of our first jet using SAF marks another important milestone in our strategic plan – expanding and renewing our fleet and strengthening our commitment to sustainability. We are grateful to Boeing for our long-term partnership, which has helped us provide our customers with the safest and most enjoyable travel experience.”

The new Dreamliner is the fourth 787-8 in EL AL’s fleet, and part of the company’s most recent acquisition of new aircraft. The financing transaction was arranged by ABL Aviation and is the 6th JOLCO financing transaction executed by EL AL since 2018. The jet can accommodate 238 passengers in three classes – Business, Premium, and Economy. EL AL’s Dreamliner fleet now includes four Boeing 787-8 aircraft and 12 787-9 aircraft, which fly to long-haul destinations in North America, Europe, and the Far East. The arrival of the newest aircraft is part of EL AL’s strategic plan to expand and renew its fleet, improve the customer experience, and focus on more efficient fuel usage.