International Airlines Group (IAG) and Boeing have signed a letter of intent for 200 B737 Max aircraft, in a boost for the manufacturer’s grounded single-aisle jet.
Subject to formal agreement, the mix of B737 Max 8 and B737 Max 10 aircraft would be delivered between 2023 and 2027, and would be operated by IAG member carriers including Vueling and Level, as well adding to British Airways’ Gatwick fleet.
Boeing’s Max aircraft are currently grounded worldwide, following two fatal crashes involving the jets, but announcing the agreement IAG’s CEO Willie Walsh said that the group had “every confidence in Boeing and expect that the aircraft will make a successful return to service in the coming months having received approval from the regulators”.
The deal would be worth $24 billion at list prices, although IAG said that it had negotiated “a substantial discount”.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister said that the manufacturer was “truly honoured and humbled by the leadership at International Airlines Group for placing their trust and confidence in the 737 MAX and, ultimately, in the people of Boeing and our deep commitment to quality and safety above all else”.
The agreement was announced at this week’s Paris Air Show, where IAG also placed an order for 14 Airbus A321XLR aircraft, destined for member carriers Aer Lingus and Iberia.
