Boeing firms up $9B order at Farnborough Airshow

Boeing picked-up another commitment on the new 737 MAX
Tuesday at the Farnborough Airshow.

GE Capital Aviation has committed to buying 100 of the new
Boeing 737 MAX’s.

It’s not a firm order yet. The companies are still
working on finalizing the deal, but it’s worth an
estimated $9 billion. This is the second big commitment
of the week after an order for 75 MAX’s Monday from Air
Lease Corporation.

Boeing VP of Marketing Randy Tinseth told MyNorthwest.com
the MAX continues to impress customers. “I think we’re
very pleased with how the program has come together and
how our customers view and value this airplane,” he said.
“I think long-term we have a bright future for the 737
MAX.”

The company also announced that the MAX will be able to
fly 400-to-540 miles farther than the 737 NG, giving it a
range advantage over its competition from Airbus.

In the run-up to the airshow south of London, expectations
were high that Boeing would clinch a raft of short-haul
deals as it tries to catch up with Airbus in orders for
single-aisle aircraft.

Boeing expects to have 1,000 firm orders for the MAX by
the end of the year. It’s still on track for first flight
in 2016 and first delivery in 2017.

This year’s airshow is taking place at a time when the
global economy is showing signs of slowing down and
governments around the world are cutting back costs on
military spending as they grapple with high debt levels.
The combination of a faltering economy and lower
government spending is a difficult combination for the
aviation industry as air travel tracks global economic
growth.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.