Airbus has ended Boeing's long monopoly in the Israeli market after concluding a deal with Israir for two A320s that could be followed by an A330 order.
The airline's president and chief executive, Zohar Endelman, says the two aircraft will be delivered in 2010. The contract will include an option for a third A320. Israir will introduce two A320s this month on an interim lease.
Endelman says the airline will begin a new round of talks with Airbus about the purchase of two A330s "for our planned long-haul operations". Israir currently operates New York services with a leased Boeing 767-300ER, but plans to add Far East and South American points to its network.
Until the Israir deal, Boeing had been exclusive supplier of jet airliners to Israel's airlines.
Source: Flight International
