Israel’s national carrier El Al Airlines (LY/ELY) was established in 1948, the year the State of Israel itself was founded. El Al, which means “to the skies” or “upward” in Hebrew, has connected Israel to the world for 75 years, and has played its own part in the country’s security and politics since its inception. //

The introduction of the Boeing 707 in the early 1960s brought El Al into the jet age and cemented its place among the famous global flag carriers. The 707 connected Tel Aviv directly to New York, a route which was the longest commercial service in operation at the time. The 707 also marked the turning point for El Al’s fleet strategy, as the airline has only ordered Boeing aircraft since.