Boeing in Talks for $1.8 Billion 737 Max Sale to Blue AirRomanian carrier may order the planes as early as next week
Latest-generation 737 seen as highlight at Paris Air Show
Romania’s Blue Air is in talks to buy Boeing Co.’s 737 Max, the latest generation of the U.S. company’s biggest-selling model, with an announcement possible at the Paris Air Show next week, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Bucharest-based airline is considering purchasing at least 20 planes, worth $1.84 billion at list prices, and chose the Boeing narrow-body over Airbus SE’s competing A320neo, according to one of the people. The order could be for as many as 50 aircraft, though it’s unclear how many of those may be options. Blue Air and Boeing declined to comment.
The deal would roughly double Blue Air’s fleet, which consisted of 25 older-generation 737s as of the end of last year. The expansion would bolster the carrier’s competitiveness with the likes of Budapest-based Wizz Air, as well as with Europe’s biggest discounter Ryanair Holdings Plc and rival EasyJet Plc, which have all been adding routes in central Europe.
Boeing delivered its first 737 Max, a version equipped with a more fuel-efficient engine than the previous model, to an affiliate of Indonesia’s Lion Mentari Airlines PT in May. The model is expected to be a focal point of the Paris Air Show, where the Chicago-based manufacturer is likely to unveil the Max 10, its largest-ever 737.
Blue Air to purchase six Boeing 737 MAX planes, lease other 12
Blue Air, the largest Romanian air carrier with Romanian capital, announced plans to purchase six Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes at a cost of over USD 600 million and lease other 12 aircraft.
The announcement was made in Paris, at the Paris Air Show 2017, the biggest event of the industry.
Moreover, company representatives said they would lease other 12 planes, respectively six Boeing 737 MAX 8 and six 737-800 Next Generation from Air Lease Corporation.
“The orders will be concluded in the second semester of 2019,” Tudor Constantinescu, Blue Air commercial manager told Ziarul Financiar at the event. “We will purchase six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and reserve the right to buy other two, under the same contractual terms,” Constantinescu explained.
The cost of the six planes stands at over USD 600 million and will be paid in leasing.
“The catalog prices for the six amount to USD 600 million. Right now we do not have any bank loan. The eight planes purchased will be paid by means of leasing. All we know is that the deposit was already paid from the company money,” Gheorghe Racaru, Blue Air general manager said.
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