Jet Airways confirm order for 75 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft

Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal and Ray Conner, president and CEO for commercial airplanes at Boeing, during the signing ceremony on Monday.

Jet airways on Monday confirmed at the Dubai Airshow that it will purchase 75 Boeing 737 Max 8 aeroplanes in an $8 billion deal, reflecting the optimism its chairman has on the Indian air travel sector.
Naresh Goyal is confident on passenger growth to and from India, which endorses the airline's decision for the order. It includes options and purchase rights for an additional 50 aircraft.
The new aircraft will support Jet Airways' replacement strategy and ensure it maintains a modern, environment-friendly fleet. The airline currently has a fleet of 115 aircraft. The transaction will be completely financed and managed through a sale and leaseback arrangement when Jet Airways takes delivery of the aircraft from 2018.
"This order is an endorsement of our confidence in the long-term prospects of the Indian aviation sector, which reflects the positive forecast for the country's economy, and offers tremendous potential for growth and development," said Goyal.
"Jet Airways has led the path in Indian aviation, providing enhanced connectivity between domestic and international sectors. We are aligned with the Government of India's mission to provide affordable air connectivity to the people across the country."
The 737 Max incorporates the latest technology CFM International Leap-1B engines, advanced technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest effieciency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market.
"I am very positive that India is growing and is the next destination for growth to stem in terms of traffic numbers as India is perceived as the investment destination and we are here to cater to this growing demand," said Goyal.
"Incorporating the latest design and technology features, the highly-efficient 737 Max will allow us to drive our operational efficiency and reaffirms our commitment to providing a best-in-class full-service travel experience to our guests."
"Boeing is proud that Jet Airways will be the first airline in India to take delivery of the 737 Max. The 737 MAX will bring new standards for fuel efficiency and economics, and a premium passenger experience to Jet Airways," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner.
Jet Airways Group currently operates a fleet which includes a mix of state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300 ERs, Airbus A330-200/300s, Next Generation Boeing 737s and ATR 72-500/600s. With an average age of 6.04 years, it is one of the youngest fleets in the region.
Cramer Ball, chief executive officer of Jet Airways, said: "This order is a reaffirmation of our commitment to continue providing a best-in-class full service travel experience to our guests. Just as importantly, these new-generation aircraft are highly fuel-efficient and will help drive our operational efficiency."
- sandhya@khaleejtimes.com