EL AL Israel Airlines back in the freighter market with Atlas deal

Freighter operator Atlas Air and EL AL Israel Airlines have entered an agreement that will allow the Tel Aviv-based carrier to expand its reach and cargo lift for its customers through the use of a B747.

As part of the ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) agreement, Atlas Air will operate a Boeing 747-400 freighter on “significant routes”, mainly Liege – Tel Aviv, commencing from this month, to serve the growth in demand across EL AL’s freight network.

John Dietrich, president and chief executive, Atlas Air Worldwide, explained: “This new agreement will allow EL AL to capitalize on the state-of-the-art service solutions provided by our aircraft.

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“We welcome EL AL as a new customer and look forward to supporting EL AL as it continues to capture market opportunities and enhance its position as a leader in Israel’s cargo industry.”

Ronen Spira, head of EL AL’s cargo division, added: “We are committed to providing our customers with a variety of cargo solutions. This strategic initiative with Atlas Air enables us to provide our customers with a stable and high-quality operation for all types of cargo. Atlas Air’s fleet of 747 aircraft is well-suited to support EL AL’s operations and schedules.”

In August of last year, the Israeli airline ended its own freighter operation when it returned a B747-400F to its lessor.

In another cargo play, the carrier also signed up to offer its capacity through online platform cargo.one in 2019.