El Al will retrofit its aging Boeing 777s with new cabins
El Al is working hard to rebrand itself as the airline of choice when flying to Israel.
The latest move comes as the country's flag carrier begins to retrofit its Boeing 777 fleet with new cabins, as confirmed to TPG by Amit Sagi, the airline's chief marketing and digital officer.
El Al has six Boeing 777-200ERs in its fleet, three of which it started flying over 20 years ago. Now, the planes are getting a new lease of life, as they undergo a nose-to-tail refresh.
In business class, the airline will strip out the 35 outdated angle-flat pods that were arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. The airline will also remove the six-seat first-class cabin, as it installs a new business-class product that's significantly more comfortable and private than the old first class ever was.
The airline confirmed that the new Boeing 777 business class will be outfitted in a 1-2-1 configuration, but it stopped short of providing details of the seats' manufacturer. The airline told TPG that the new cabin will "have the same look and feel" as biz on El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
All of El Al's 787s are outfitted with the industry-leading Recaro CL6710 seats in business class, which are similar to the customized Polaris pods you'll find across United's long-haul fleet.
Perhaps El Al will choose one of the new business-class products with sliding doors, which would make it one of the top cabins in the sky.
The 777s will also get a new cabin: premium economy. Previously, there wasn't a product available between business and coach on these jets.
Finally, El Al's coach cabin, which the airline brands as "tourist" class, will also get new seats. A large section of extra-legroom economy seats will be available for a modest upcharge, the airline told TPG.
Along with the new seats, the carrier will be adding ViaSat satellite-based Wi-Fi during the retrofit process. Long-haul business-class passengers will enjoy complimentary internet access as part of their ticket.
All cabins will enjoy upgraded inflight entertainment systems as well.
The airline promised to reveal more details about the retrofit, along with the cabin configuration and photos in the coming months. For now, the airline is only retrofitting two of its 777s, and they'll be flying during the summer schedule barring any delays, the carrier confirmed to TPG.
The refreshed planes will initially serve European and Asian markets, though the airline isn't going to be assigning them to specific routes at the outset. Instead, they'll be deployed based on passenger loads and other factors.
El Al still hasn't determined the fate of its four other 777s, but there's good news: the airline is promising to only fly the newly retrofitted birds going forward. The other four will remain parked until they either get the retrofit or are retired.
While we'll need to wait for more details, El Al's long-haul product is poised to become one of the best for nonstop service to Israel.
The 777 retrofits join the company's new fleet of Dreamliners that are already crisscrossing the globe from the carrier's Tel Aviv hub.
All 15 of the Dreamliners feature modernized cabins, with lie-flat biz pods, premium economy recliners and comfortable coach seats.
If you associate El Al with outdated cabins and a subpar inflight experience, it's time to give the airline another try. The retrofitted 777s, along with the latest Dreamliners, will be waiting for you.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.