Boeing, EL AL Israel Airlines and Air Lease Corporation have welcomed the delivery of the carrier’s first 787 Dreamliner.

EL AL has secured the airplane through an agreement with Air Lease.

The 787-9 touched down in Tel Aviv earlier following a non-stop, 6,746 mile delivery flight from Paine Field, adjacent to Boeing’s factory in Everett, Washington.

“The arrival of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a day of pride and joy to all of us at EL AL,” said EL AL chief executive David Maimon.

“It is the highlight in the ongoing renewal of the EL AL fleet, which started a year and a half ago when we decided to order 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

“We are happy to embark on a new journey with our first Dreamliner.”

The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features.

In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to midsize airplanes, the 787 will provide EL AL with unmatched fuel efficiency and environmental performance, using 20 to 25 per cent less fuel and with 20 to 25 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

“We are honoured to deliver the first 787 Dreamliner to our great partners at EL AL,” said Ray Conner, vice chairman, Boeing.

“The 787 Dreamliner will play a key role in the renewal of EL AL’s fleet and growing its network worldwide as it ushers in a new era for the airline, its employees and its customers around the globe.”

EL AL has been an all-Boeing carrier since taking delivery of its first new Boeing airplane in 1961 and currently operates a fleet of more than 40 airplanes including Next-Generation 737s, 747s, 767s and 777s.