El Al increases cargo operations to aid Israel’s war effort

El Al Israel Airlines has removed the passenger seats from a Boeing 777 to accommodate more cargo and welcomed a Boeing 737 converted freighter to its fleet as the carrier increases its cargo operations to transport much-needed supplies amid the Israel-Hamas war, which has raged for more than a month. [caption id="attachment_57139169" align="alignright" width="300"] An El Al employee removes the seats from a Boeing 777 passenger plane, turning it into a cargo-only plane to bring goods and supplies into Israel during wartime. (Photo/El Al)[/caption] Many airlines had halt ed flights to the region , citing safety concern The Boeing 777-200ER, with registration 4X-ECD, was one of the 777s El Al used for belly-only cargo flights during the pandemic, but not one of the two from which the carrier removed seats. Now, with its seats removed, the plane has a cargo capacity of between 25 and 50 tonnes, according to an El Al post on X , formerly Twitter. The new 737-800F, dubbed “Otef Israel,” can carry 20 tonnes of cargo, according to a second X post. Shifting needs The war, which some are calling the Iron Swords War after Operation Swords of Iron, Israel’s name for its operations in Gaza, first increased passenger demand, then depleted it. [caption id="attachment_57139170" align="alignleft" width="300"] An El Al employee removes the seats from a Boeing 777 passenger plane. (Photo/El Al)[/caption] “At the beginning of Iron Swords War, El Al Israel Airlines operated many special rescue flights to support and assist many Israeli people that wished to fly back to Israel because most of the other foreign airlines ceased flight to Israel immediately after” the war began, Moshe Ben Haviv , cargo regional manager for Europe and Africa and general sales and service agent and interline manager at El Al, told Air Cargo Next . El Al has since reduced its passenger flights and El Al Cargo is responding by using widebody aircraft for special cargo charter operations, Ben Haviv said. These flights are offsetting “the lack of cargo supply/capacity resulting from the cease of operations into Israel of foreign airlines,” he said. New routes bring aid Otef Israel flies thrice weekly between Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv and Frankfurt Airport (FRA), twice weekly between TLV and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), and once weekly between TLV and each of the following locations: Zurich Airport (ZRH), Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and London. [caption id="attachment_57139168" align="alignright" width="300"] Seats are taken away from a Boeing 777 passenger plane, turning it into a cargo-only plane. (Photo/El Al)[/caption] In addition to using Otef Israel for cargo operations, El Al is also using: An Airbus 300-600F with a capacity of 47 tonnes; A B738-800F with a capacity of about 20 tonnes; A B777-200 P2F with a capacity of 40-50 tonnes; A B787-800 passenger plane with a capacity of 40-50 tonnes; and A B787-900 passenger plane with a capacity of 40-50 tonnes. El Al is also using bellyhold capacity on passenger flights to transport aid and commercial goods. The carrier began cargo flights to India this month, marking the first time El Al Cargo has flown there in four years. El Al is operating two flights to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai and one flight to Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) using its B787-900 to carry “aids and various cargo for supporting the people of Israel,” Ben Haviv said. “El Al is supporting Iron Swords War and carrying aid and medical equipment, dry food [and] clothing for the people that lost their homes and families on Oct. 7,” Ben Haviv said. The flights are “supporting the brave IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers that are fighting now against terror organizations who wish to destroy the state of Israel.”

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