This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
At the Dubai Airshow, Boeing Co received a boost as airlines expressed interest in purchasing up to 50 of its grounded 737 MAX jets, worth $6 billion at list prices. This comes a day after securing the first firm order since a safety ban in March.
Flag carrier Air Astana of Kazakhstan signed a letter of intent to order 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets for its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan. The deal is a significant step towards the jet's return to commercial service, which has been pushed back to early 2020 due to regulatory scrutiny following two fatal accidents.
“We are confident in Boeing’s professionalism to overcome interim technical difficulties,” Air Astana Chief Planning Officer Alma Aliguzhinova said in a statement.
Separately, an unnamed airline signed a firm order for 10 Boeing 737 MAX 7s and 10 Boeing MAX 10 jets, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Other deals at the airshow included Saudi budget airline Flynas agreeing to buy 10 long-range A321XLR jets, and Airbus unveiling a provisional order for eight A220 jets from Air Senegal.
Leasing giant GECAS confirmed a new order for 25 Airbus planes, including 12 A330neo, and plans to convert another seven aircraft to a different model.
