Silk Air has signed letter of intent to purchase up to 68 new Boeings

[here2go]

http://www.silkair.com/mbe/en_UK/co...dium=social&utm_campaign=pressrelease3aug2012

Press Release

3 August 2012

SILKAIR TO ORDER UP TO 68 NEW BOEING AIRCRAFT

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, has signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 68 new aircraft from Boeing. The order is the largest in SilkAir's history and remains subject to the negotiation of a final purchase agreement. It will comprise firm orders for 54 aircraft and purchase rights for another 14. Firm orders will comprise 23 Boeing 737-800s and 31 Boeing 737 MAX 8s. SilkAir will have the flexibility to switch to other variants within the B737 product range. The firm-ordered aircraft are valued at US$4.9 billion based on current Boeing list prices. Deliveries are due to begin in 2014 and continue to 2021, by which time the Airline's fleet will have more than doubled in size. SilkAir currently operates 21 A319s and A320s, with three more A320s due for delivery by the end of 2013. The new aircraft will cater for both growth and fleet renewal. SilkAir Chief Executive Marvin Tan said the size of the order reflects the Airline's confidence in the Asia-Pacific air travel market, helping the carrier maintain annual double-digit percentage growth rates through the end of this decade and beyond. "We continue to see very strong growth within the region and these new aircraft will position SilkAir well. They will enable us to spread our wings to even more destinations and increase capacity on existing routes, contributing to the overall SIA Group network," said Mr Tan. "The selection of the B737 follows detailed evaluations and extensive negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing. The order will enable us to maintain a young and modern fleet, with an aircraft that has a proven track record of strong customer appeal, excellent reliability and low operating costs." The B737-800 is the best-selling variant in Boeing's popular Next Generation family of single-aisle aircraft. The B737 MAX is currently in development and will be the latest generation of the product line.

 

[lovestotravel]

It's "different" to hear of an airline going from Airbus A320 to Boeing 737 !

 

[here2go]

It's "different" to hear of an airline going from Airbus A320 to Boeing 737 !

Maybe something to do with the lack of unit load devices (ie containers) hence they can operate from less well developed airfields? From memory this was an aspect of the DJ decision to go 737.

 

[Austman]

Oh. From a passenger comfort point of view, in Y class, the A320 is usually better than the 737. The seat pitch is always going to variations of bad but at least with the common 3-3 layout the A320 has wider seats and better shoulder room.

 

[markis10]

China Southern also announced an order, suspect the slots are getting longer and longer, if you have not got your order in it could be a long wait. I suspect the current 737 QF fleet will be its last of the type for some time once the 11 on backlog are delivered.

A spokesman for China Southern Airlines said its Xiamen Airlines subsidiary is buying 40 Boeing 737s worth $3.4 billion as part of its strategy to expand international routes.

The company, which is China's biggest airline by passenger numbers, said Xiamen Airlines is paying "significantly lower" than the $3.4 billion sticker price. It's common practice for plane makers to give airlines discounts, and the final selling price for aircraft is rarely disclosed.

The jets will be delivered from 2016 to 2019. China Southern said they will be used to help with the company's "internationalization" plans.

http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing...4-Boeing-737s-worth-83-billion-164894636.html

Model Series	Eng	First Order	Orders	Deliveries	Unfilled	First Delivery
122	54	68
737-700	CF	30-Jun-2004	2	2	-	28-Jul-2005
737-800	CF	31-Dec-2002	97	52	45	13-Aug-2003
737-MAX	CF	06-Jul-2012	23	-	23
	122	54	68
	122	54	68

[TH="colspan: 3, align: left"]Virgin Australia Airlines (AUSTRALIA)-Total[/TH]

[TD="colspan: 2, align: right"]737 Total[/TD]

[TH="colspan: 2, align: right"]Customer Total[/TH]

 

[Simo]

I would like to be that boeing sales person.

Or maybe some silk airs motto is "Not going if it is not a Boeing"