Aircraft orders monthly: Vietjet in for B737s while AEI announces two deals
03 / 06 / 2016
Each month Air Cargo News analyses the latest aircraft orders, both passenger and freighter.
Vietjet finalises Vietnam’s largest ever commercial airplane purchase
VietJet has finalised an order for 100 Boeing single-aisle 737 MAX 200 airplanes, the largest ever single commercial airplane purchase in Vietnam aviation, valued at approximately $11.3bn at current list prices.
The signing ceremony, conducted by Vietjet President and CEO Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner, took place at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, at approximately 11:40 a.m. local time.
"Vietjet is efficiently operating a fleet of narrow body airplanes. Our investment in a fleet of B737 Max 200 will accommodate our strategy of growing Vietjet’s coming international route network including long haul flights,” said Vietjet president and chief executive Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo.
The airplanes will be delivered from 2019 through 2023. This agreement also helps Vietjet to increase its fleet to more than 200 airplanes by the end 2023, with the most modern and advanced technology in the world.
Mystery customer signs up for 30 B737s conversions
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc has signed an agreement to provide up to 30 twelve pallet position Boeing 737-800SF conversions with an undisclosed customer.
The agreement includes 15 firm orders with an additional 15 options. The modifications for the customer will begin in late 2018 with deliveries beginning in 2019.
The AEI B737-800SF converted freighter is able to accommodate eleven full-height containers or pallets and one AEP/AEH container for a total of 12 positions.
Lessor places conversion order
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc (AEI) has signed a contract with US and European leasing company Automatic for two 11-pallet-position B737-400SF freighter conversions.
Both aircraft were built in 1993, are standard gross weight and the work will be carried out by AEI’s modification and repair specialist Commercial Jet at its Miami facility.
The aircraft are due to be re-delivered in September and January 2017, respectively.
AEI says its B737-400SF is the only passenger to freighter conversion that offers ten full height 88” x 125” container positions due to a main deck cargo position 40” further back than the competition.
April freighter additions
As well as the orders mentioned in our last monthly report, FedEx also placed an order for a Boeing 777F in April.
