News
Lion Air orders 50 MAX 10s, resists wide bodies
June 23rd 2017
Indonesia’s fast-expanding Lion Air Group this week ordered 50 B737 MAX 10s, Boeing’s latest narrow body that is designed to compete with the A321neo. Read More » The U.S. manufacturer has received more than 1,500 commitments for the aircraft from airlines.
The Lion Air Group carriers are Lion Air, Batik Air, Batik Air Malaysia, Wings Air and Don Mueang-based Thai subsidiary, Thai Lion Air. Including this latest order, the Lion Air Group has committed to 251 MAX series aircraft. The makeup of the order of MAX 8s and MAX 9s has not been disclosed.
The Lion Air Group became the launch operator of the MAX 8 in May and also will be the first airline to fly the MAX 9. Four of the type is expected to arrive at the group this year. “The 737 MAX family of airplanes is the perfect combination of single-aisle aircraft for the Lion Air Group, with their new levels of fuel efficiency as well as their range and capacity capabilities,” said Lion Air Group President, Edward Sirait.
Siriat said the MAX 10s would mostly be flown on domestic routes across the the Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.
The Lion Air Group has expanded rapidly and many in the industry believe it is over-ordering, but the group typically enters sale-and-leaseback transactions when it receives new aircraft. Lion Air has 112 Boeing narrow bodies in service and also operates three high-density A330-300s.
