Arkia and Israir are evaluating the lease or purchase of Boeing 787s as part of their expansion plans. The two Israeli airlines have received detailed data about the 787 and the earliest possible delivery dates. Israir had until recently operated short-haul flights, but has launched scheduled servies to New York using a Boeing 767 leased from Icelandair. The airline’s president Sabina Biran says that the 787 is the best equipment for the airline’s future long-haul requirements: “We are talking with Boeing on all possible arrangements.” Meanwhile, Arkia chairman and chief executive Rafi Harlev says that the new Boeing twinjet “will allow us to expand long-haul operations”.
Source: Flight International
