It seems the appetite for the Boeing 737 MAX isn’t slowing down, with Jeju Air of South Korea placing an order today.
The order calls for an order of 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with options for a further 10 – a total of up to 50 aircraft. At list prices, the order is worth up to US$5.9 billion.
Jeju Air is a low-cost carrier, based out of Jeju Island. The airline started up in 2005, operating to 60 South Korean and International destinations with 200 daily flights.
Jeju Air’s, President and CEO is bullish about growth, with him stating
“With Korea’s growing commercial aviation market, we are excited to take the next step in expanding our business with the 737 MAX, a world-class airplane that will allow us to improve our operation and continue to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our passengers,”
The 737 MAX 8 and its superior performance and economics make it an ideal airplane to implement our growth strategy as we look to expand beyond Asia in the coming years.”
The airline currently operates a fleet of 39 active Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and are looking toward the 737 MAX to increase efficiencies. The planes will offer a 14% better fuel efficiency alone compared to the existing Boeing 737-800 fleet according to Boeing.
The planes will be fitted with CFM CFM International LEAP-1B engines, The Boeing Advanced Technology winglets, and other aerodynamic improvements.
On the sale, Ihssane Mouni, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company states
“We are extremely proud that Jeju Air has become a leader in the vibrant LCC market by flying the Boeing 737. And we are delighted that the airline has chosen to build their future fleet with this major order for the 737 MAX,”
The sale includes access to Boeing Global Services tools, which includes digital tools to monitor costs, and a fuel dashboard to monitor fuel spending, and places to optimise fuel use
It’s a step forward for Jeju Air, who in the past have brought other airlines (be it Ryanair, Norwegian Air Shuttle or others), with the majority of their fleet currently leased, and a few frames that the airline has directly ordered.
Being an Low-Cost Carrier, don’t expect the heights of luxury on these planes. However – they will be airlines own planes to configure and use as they please,
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