The low-cost US company Allegiant Air has ordered 50 copies of the 737 MAX from Boeing and has an option for 50 additional aircraft of the same family, according to a statement Wednesday.
This purchase by a company which currently operates only Airbus A319 and A320 represents a new welcome for the American manufacturer, which was delighted in mid-December with large orders from two long-standing customers, Air France. -KLM and Qantas, by its European competitor.
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Allegiant chose the 737-7s, which sold in 2019 at a list price of $ 99.7 million, and the 737-8-200, which sold for $ 124.8 million.
The group did not specify how the order was split between these two versions.
"
We have always looked at our fleet opportunistically and this interesting transaction with Boeing is no exception
," Allegiant CEO Maurice Gallagher said in the statement.
"
Even if the heart of our strategy continues to be based on the purchase of second-hand aircraft, the injection of up to 100 737 aircraft directly from the manufacturer will bring many advantages for the future
," he said. He stressed: more flexibility in terms of growth or retirement from service, “
significant environmental benefits
” as well as a more modern cabin configuration and characteristics.
20% less kerosene
The new aircraft will also consume 20% less kerosene than those currently used in Allegiant's fleet.
"
This agreement confirms the economic interest of the 737 MAX family in the very low-cost airline market
," said Stan Deal, head of the commercial aircraft division at Boeing.
The 737 MAX is currently in full competition against the bestsellers of Airbus, the A220 and the A320neo.
The agreement with Allegiant represents the first large order for the manufacturer since the announcement, on December 16, by the Australian company Qantas of the replacement of its Boeing 717 and 737 of the domestic routes by A220 and A320neo of the European aircraft manufacturer, for a total of 134 potential devices
Less than 24 hours later, Air France-KLM announced a firm order for 100 aircraft of the A320neo family, which will also be intended to replace Boeing medium-haul within the Dutch companies KLM and “
low-cost
” Transavia.
These changes from one manufacturer to another by leading companies represent decisions that can commit them over several decades, in particular because they must reform their pilots.
The 737 MAX, the latest version of the Seattle firm's flagship medium-haul, was grounded in March 2019 following two close-quarters accidents that killed 346 before gradually resuming service from the end of 2020.
