The El Al Israel National Airlines has decided to purchase two Boeing 720 medium-range jet airliners to eventually replace the line’s turboprop Britannias on the Lydda-European runs, it was announced here today.
Ephraim Ben-Artzi, general director of El Al, said the purchase of the two jetliners, approval for which is expected soon from the Government, would require an investment of $15,000,000. He said that 80 percent of the purchase price, which has been guaranteed by an American loan, will be paid by the delivery date of the first jet in March 1962. The second plane is scheduled for delivery two months later.
Israel’s first Boeing 707 jet, already undergoing test flights with Israeli crews, is expected to be flown to Israel next month when it will be put into operation on regular trans-Atlantic flights. Next season, El Al will operate nine weekly flights to New York. Mr. Ben-Artzi lauded the Boeing Corporation for enabling El Al to operate its own jets earlier than expected by speeding up delivery of the planes.
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