Originally published November 17, 2011 at 5:56 AM | Page modified November 17, 2011 at 9:39 PM
Lion Air plans order for 230 Boeing jets
Boeing said on Thursday that Indonesia's Lion Air plans to buy 230 jets, which would be the airplane maker's biggest order ever if it is finalized.
AP Airlines Writer
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Boeing said on Thursday that Indonesia's Lion Air plans to buy 230 jets, which would be the airplane maker's biggest order ever if it is finalized.
The list price for the Boeing 737s would be $21.7 billion, although it's common for customers to receive a discount.
Lion Air said it plans to buy 201 of Boeing's 737 Max planes, which are getting design tweaks and new engines to make them more fuel efficient. Lion Air also plans to buy 29 extended-range 737s. The White House announced Lion Air's plans on Thursday as part of President Barack Obama's trip to Bali, Indonesia.
The announcement comes just days after Boeing got its biggest order in terms of dollar value. On Sunday, Emirates Airline ordered 50 Boeing 777s, with a list price of $18 billion.
Boeing has said it expects to start delivering the 737 Max in 2017 and that it will work with Lion Air to finalize an order.
Lion Air ordered 178 Boeing 737s in 2005 and 2006 and has received 52 so far, according to Boeing's website. The deal unveiled Thursday is in addition to those previously ordered planes, a Boeing spokesman confirmed.
Lion Air has options for 150 more planes, valued at $14 billion, bringing the deal's total potential value to $35 billion.
Lion Air has an all-Boeing fleet. It also has orders for 125 more Boeing 737-900ERs.
In July, American Airlines said it plans to buy 200 Boeing planes as part of a massive plane purchase that pitted Boeing against its chief rival, Airbus. American at that time said it would also buy 260 planes from Airbus. American has options for 465 more planes from the two manufacturers.
That order was seen as the catalyst for Boeing's redesign of its iconic 737, matching a competing Airbus plane and giving its best-selling jet the fuel efficiency that airlines demand. Boeing makes more 737s than any other plane.
Before the American order, Boeing's biggest order by volume was 115 planes ordered by United Airlines in 1989.
Also Thursday, Boeing said that aircraft leasing company Aviation Capital Group had ordered 20 of its 737-800s and committed to buy 35 of the planned 737 Max.
Shares of Chicago-based Boeing closed down 25 cents at $66.09 Thursday.
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Samantha Bomkamp can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/samwilltravel




I wish people would just be thankful for good news instead of immediately trying to... (November 17, 2011, by nick469)
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