Israeli airline El Al has announced it was returning its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to service, having previously sidelined the jets due to falling demand.
A total of six 777s had been removed from service by Israel’s flag carrier when the airline halted all flights between March and September 2020 amid plunging demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. El Al had already replaced its aging fleet 747s with 15 new Dreamliner 787 aircraft in use on long haul routes to North America and Asia.
With demand picking back up following the removal of most pandemic-related restrictions around the world, the six aircraft will now return for routed to Bangkok, Phuket, Athens and Dubai.
“The return of the planes will make it possible to expand the flight schedule in the peak season and even allow additional destinations,” El Al said, adding that the aircraft, some of which were used on cargo routes, have passed all the required tests to take to the skies once more in a commercial capacity.
El Al saw passenger numbers surge over the first half of 2022, with a total of 1.6 million passengers flying with the airline. This was an increase of 400% on the same period for the previous year, when just 400,000 passengers flew with the firm.