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Alaska Air to purchase additional 23 737-9 MAX from Boeing

31 March 2021 09:15 (UTC +04:00)

Alaska Air Group Inc said on Tuesday it would buy an additional 23 737 MAX 9 jets, in a move that highlights growing confidence in Boeing Co’s aircraft following a 20-month safety ban triggered by two fatal crashes, APA reports citing Reuters.

The amended deal, under which deliveries are expected between 2023 and 2024, is also expected to increase the pace at which the airline’s fleet shifts back to Boeing planes.

Alaska, for which 737 MAX order book inclusive of options and lease commitments stands at 120 airplanes, may exercise further options to purchase 15 aircraft with deliveries between 2023 and 2026.

In December, Seattle-based Alaska Air had agreed to buy 23 MAX 9 jets, an order worth about $2.96 billion at list prices before significant discounts.

The Alaska Air deal comes just a day after Boeing said it sold 100 new 737 MAX-7 jets to long-time customer Southwest Airlines, in its biggest order win since the safety ban was lifted.

Earlier this month, the planemaker won orders for 24 of the 737-8 model from a backer of Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines.

The 737-9 is expected to use 20% less fuel and reduce emissions by 20% per seat compared with airplanes it replaces, Boeing said in a statement.