Lion Air has committed to an order of 201 B737 MAXs and 29 Next Generation B737-900ERs (extended range) from Boeing.
As part of the agreement, the Jakarta-based airline will obtain purchase rights for an additional 150 aircraft valued at more than US$14 billion if bought at list price, amounting a total commitment to 380 B737 aircraft.
This announcement was made at the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia on November 18 with US President Barack Obama bearing witness at the ceremony. The deal, when finalised will be the largest commercial plane order in Boeing’s history in terms of dollar volume and the total number of planes ordered.
Apart from Lion Air’s massive commitment to 380 B737s, Boeing also managed to secured orders of eight 777-300ERs from Singapore Airlines (see story here), six 787-8s from Oman Air (see story here) , 50 777-300 ERs from Emirates and a commitment for 35 737 MAXs by Aviation Capital Group (ACG) last week.
Lion Air currently operates a total of 178 Next-Generation 737s. The airline flies to more than 36 cities in Indonesia and international destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam on the Boeing 737-900. It is also currently the largest operator of the 737-900ER in the world.
"The 737 MAX will be the future of Lion Air," said Rusdi Kirana, Lion Air Founder and President Director. "The highly efficient, technologically advanced airplane will help Lion Air continue to bring low fares and allow us to open new destinations because of the longer range of the airplane."
For more information, visit www.lionair.co.id or www.boeing.com
Tiffany Sandrasageran
