Copa Airlines have got the big cash out, with the airline agreeing an order for 61 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
The exact split between the two models have yet to be decided. The planes will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines.
At list prices, this order will be worth US$6.6 Billion (although to be honest, I’d be surprised if Copa is paying anywhere near list price for these aircraft.
These should slot in nicely to Copa Airlines fleet – who currently operate the Boeing 737-700 (17 in service) and Boeing 737-800 (56 in service, 34 to be delivered) aircraft.
Copa will be using these aircraft to replace the older aircraft in their fleet, as well as using them for network expansion.
The balance of the order could be interesting as Copa continues to expand – in that the airline may choose for the larger MAX 9 edition for passenger loads, whilst using the MAX 8 edition for longer range services from its base at Panama City.
None the less, this will make Copa Airlines the first operator of the Boeing 737 MAX in Latin America.
Boeing aircraft seem to be a good fit for the airline – which has been operating the type for some years. Copa also operate 26 Embraer E-190s in its fleet as well.
No date of delivery has been specified for these aircraft yet – and with Boeing having a backlog of 2,715 aircraft from 57 customers, there’s a fair few of them to be built before Copa Airlines gets their aircraft.
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