EL AL selects Lufthansa Systems' BoardConnect for wireless AVOD IFE

by BA Staff

(left: Stefan Hansen, CEO Lufthansa Systems AG
and Elyezer Shkedy, CEO El Al)

EL AL Israel Airlines has selected Lufthansa Systems' wireless in-flight entertainment system BoardConnect. Using their laptops, tablet PCs or smartphones EL AL passengers will be able to access on-demand audio and video and other content.

The system will be installed on 10 Boeing 737s and two Boeing 767s.

Elyezer Shkedy, CEO of EL AL said

"BoardConnect represents a very essential asset to our overall product enhancement strategy. With BoardConnect we will be able to offer our passengers a significantly advanced travel experience", "EL AL is one of the first airlines worldwide and the first airline that provides this service from Israel to Europe and vice versa, which offer sophisticated in-flight infotainment not only on wide-body aircraft, but on 737-class aircraft as well. This gives us a significant competitive advantage."

Unlike conventional in-flight entertainment systems, BoardConnect does not require any complicated wiring for each seat. Instead, it works with a regular WLAN and depending on aircraft size needs only two to five access points in the cabin to stream a broad variety of content to every passenger’s device. It can be used with iOS, Android, Windows 8 as well as conventional Windows or Apple devices.

From the airline perspective, the system installation doesn’t need an extensive downtime like a major overhaul or a cabin refurbishment, thus saving costs and minimising roll-out times. The system has be designed for less complexity using of-the-shelve components and for high reliability and lower maintenance cost. Additionally it also lightweight, which is expected to save EL AL about 50 tons of fuel per 737 annually, when compared with embedded in-seat IFE systems.

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Boeing, EL AL Israel Airlines finalize order for two more 737-900ERs

By BA Staff

El Al Boeing 737-800. Image by AF1621 courtesy Wikimedia

Boeing and El Al Israel Airlines have finalized an order for two additional Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes.

The order comes just two weeks after the Israeli flag-carrier took delivery of its first 737-900ER. This order brings the total number of 737-900ERs ordered by EL AL to eight.

Elyezer Shkedy, president and chief executive officer of El Al Israel Airlines said:

"This decision by EL AL to purchase two more 737-900ER aircraft demonstrates our good relationship with Boeing. We are committed to provide our passengers on our medium and short-haul routes with the highest quality product and service, allowing EL AL to continue to be the first choice now and in the future."

The order was finalized at a special event hosted by EL AL at the carrier's base at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport to celebrate the recent arrival of EL AL's first 737-900ER. The Boeing 737-900ER will complement EL AL's existing fleet of Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s.

 Todd Nelp, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

"We delivered EL AL's first 737-900ER earlier this month and are confident it will fit seamlessly into its short and medium-haul fleet, providing greater flexibility for the carrier's operations across Europe. This order is the latest chapter in a partnership between Boeing and EL AL that stretches back to the foundation of Israel, and it is a sense of enormous pride to the entire company that such a prestigious airline continues to operate an all-Boeing fleet."

EL AL operates an all-Boeing fleet of nearly 40 airplanes including Next-Generation 737s, 747-400s, 767s and 777s and serves more than 40 destinations worldwide from its base in Tel Aviv.  

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Boeing Delivers EL AL Israel Airlines' First Next-Generation 737-900ER

By BA Staff

Boeing has delivered to El Al Israel Airlines the carrier's first Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane.

The delivery is the first of six 737-900ERs the Israeli flag-carrier has on order and is the latest addition to El Al's all-Boeing fleet.  

Elyezer Shkedy, president and chief executive officer, El Al, said:

"The purchase of the Boeing 737-900ER aircraft marks the high point of El Al's re-equipping and fleet renewal impetus. This positions El Al at the forefront of international aviation technology, further elevating El Al's in-flight experience. Our investment in the new modern Economy Class seats and in a sophisticated entertainment system, that will be launched in the coming months, is in line with the target we set for ourselves - to provide the best product and most advanced service for passengers and thus retain El Al's status as the most preferred airline for flights to and from Israel. We would like to thank Boeing and all the other partners for their outstanding work on El Al's six new aircraft."

The Boeing 737-900ER is the newest member of the Next-Generation 737 airplane family. It has the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost of Boeing's single-aisle family and will fit perfectly into El Al's existing short and medium-haul fleet of Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s. El Al's latest addition to its fleet will seat 172 passengers, with all passengers able to enjoy the option of power sockets for their laptops and USB connections. The Israeli-flag carrier operates an all-Boeing fleet of nearly 40 airplanes including Next-Generation 737s, 747-400s, 767s and 777s and serves 30 destinations worldwide.   

El Al's 737-900ER will be its first airplane to feature the new Boeing Sky Interior. This interior is the latest in a series of enhancements for both airlines and passengers. It introduces new LED lighting and curved architecture that welcomes passengers onboard and creates a greater sense of spaciousness and comfort in the cabin. The interior also features modern, sculpted sidewalls and overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling, yet carry more bags.
  
Todd Nelp, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

 Europe, while offering its passengers the superior passenger comfort of the Boeing Sky Interior. We share a proud history with El Al, and are honored to once again play a significant role in this all-Boeing carrier's fleet renewal. El Al has already experienced the excellent reliability and operating economics of the Next-Generation 737 family with its fleet of 737-700s and 737-800s. The 737-900ER will enable El Al to greatly expand its operations across.

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