JERUSALEM, June 10 (Reuters) - Israel's El Al Israel

Airlines said on Monday it would acquire around 30

Boeing 737MAX aircraft to renew its short-haul fleet in a

deal estimated to be worth between $2 billion-2.5 billion.

The carrier said deliveries would begin in 2027 and would be

spread out over several years.

Earlier this month Boeing ( BA ) and its European rival Airbus

were locked in negotiations with the Israeli flag

carrier for the order to replace and expand El Al's fleet of

narrow-body jets.

El Al operates an all Boeing ( BA ) wide-and narrow-body fleet, but

had also been assessing Airbus' A321 neo jets.

The deal is a boost to Boeing ( BA ), which is wrestling with a

safety crisis exacerbated by a January mid-air panel blowout on

a near-new 737 MAX plane operated by Alaska Airlines.

Following the Alaska Airlines incident on Jan. 5, U.S.

regulators have curbed the company's production ceiling.

Boeing ( BA ) is also under renewed scrutiny from the U.S. Justice

Department, which is weighing whether to advance criminal

charges against the company for violating a non-prosecution

agreement stemming from the two fatal crashes involving the MAX.

El Al CEO Dina Ben Tal Ganancia told Reuters earlier this

month she believed Boeing ( BA ) had no other choice than to transform

the company and fix the many issues it faces.

Boeing ( BA ) CEO Dave Calhoun recently reiterated the planemaker's

commitment to safety and transparency, especially in the wake of

the Alaska Airlines incident, saying Boeing ( BA ) was now a

"different" company.