Good news: LY 777s are back and get a new interior
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
Good news: LY 777s are back and get a new interior
#2
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,604
This seems like an odd move, although bringing only 2 of them back seems probably less odd. There will likely be a significant uptick in travel once Israel's borders are totally open again, especially from the United States. Depending on which seat they select, they will likely be around 32 J as the footprint between doors 1 and 2 would allow for that configuration (similar to United's fleet as the seat is similar). PY will be 2-4-2 so between 32 and 40 depending on the number of rows (my bet would be 40). Economy will go 3-4-3 which could mean as many Y seats as the 789 if not more.
This seems a bit of a stopgap to the HGW 78J. Likely EL AL is hedging their bet on travel returning without a huge CapEx. A 78J would fit nicely in the fleet, especially on routes to NYC. the HGW version will have little trouble reaching the US west coast with a full payload and one could easily see the 777's being replaced 1:1 with the 78J to run the routes to the US.
This seems a bit of a stopgap to the HGW 78J. Likely EL AL is hedging their bet on travel returning without a huge CapEx. A 78J would fit nicely in the fleet, especially on routes to NYC. the HGW version will have little trouble reaching the US west coast with a full payload and one could easily see the 777's being replaced 1:1 with the 78J to run the routes to the US.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Israel
Programs: LY, BT
Posts: 126
This move makes a lot of sense. Upgrading the 77s to the new cabin will allow LY to use them to widebody destinations in Europe like LHR and CDG as well as newer destinations like DXB. This also frees up some 737s while management is very seriously eyeing getting rid of almost all 738s and retaining the 739 as the short-medium range workhorse.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
This move makes a lot of sense. Upgrading the 77s to the new cabin will allow LY to use them to widebody destinations in Europe like LHR and CDG as well as newer destinations like DXB. This also frees up some 737s while management is very seriously eyeing getting rid of almost all 738s and retaining the 739 as the short-medium range workhorse.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Programs: VS Silver; Matmid Silver, BA Bronze; Accor Plat.
Posts: 960
It seems with the prices BA want at the moment and the awful arrival and departure times BA & VS are scheduling for the summer, LY will be my first choice until the Autumn.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: LH SENATOR
Posts: 1,040
Wouldn't it make more sense to lease some more Dreamliners???!!! They even could get a few B78X in case additional capacity would be economical to destinations in North America for instance. They would have tremendous savings in maintenance and training by just having one Widebody type in their fleet. Regarding their Short / Medium haul fleet, well only 9 739's seems not enough but they have some newer 2nd hand B738's in the fleet that joined over the years hence maybe approx 5 of them can stay and the rest can be retired.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
Wouldn't it make more sense to lease some more Dreamliners???!!! They even could get a few B78X in case additional capacity would be economical to destinations in North America for instance. They would have tremendous savings in maintenance and training by just having one Widebody type in their fleet. Regarding their Short / Medium haul fleet, well only 9 739's seems not enough but they have some newer 2nd hand B738's in the fleet that joined over the years hence maybe approx 5 of them can stay and the rest can be retired.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
I definitely see them getting some 78J to replace the 77E... but I don't think they're in the financial position to buy/lease 6 new aircraft...
it would make more sense for them to (as they are doing) to refresh the 777's and keep them another ~8 years, when hopefully COVID pandemic craziness s in the rear view mirror,,
it would make more sense for them to (as they are doing) to refresh the 777's and keep them another ~8 years, when hopefully COVID pandemic craziness s in the rear view mirror,,
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294