El Al Israeli Airways has confirmed that it is currently in talks with Airbus about a potential A321neo order, with the final decision to be made in 2024, Reuter reports.
While speaking to Reuters, Ben Tal Ganancia, chief executive, EL AI said: “The negotiations with Airbus were “serious” and that the Israeli carrier is having discussions with both Airbus and Boeing over a potential narrow-body aircraft order. They are coming back and forth to Israel to show us their business cases and we are examining them.”
This statement confirms the announcement made by the airline during the Q1 2023 financial results presentation in May 2023. “El Al wants to expand and renew its fleet starting by 2025,” the airline’s statement read.
The airline sent a Request for Proposals (RFP) to Airbus, Boeing, and engine manufacturers over its next-generation single-aisle jets.
During the Q2, 2023 financial results presentation, EL AI highlighted its narrowbody expansion plans to 31 aircraft by 2028 including the introduction of next-generation aircraft like the A321neo. Its Boeing 787 fleet is scheduled to grow to 22 aircraft by 2028, according to the airline’s estimates.