Avia Solutions Group has ordered 40 737 MAX 8 aircraft from Boeing, the two companies announced. The deal is worth about $4.9 billion and represents a boost for the aviation giant, which is recovering from a workers' strike, AFP reported.
Avia's first order with the aviation giant comes with an option to add 40 more planes later, Boeing and Avia said in a statement.
"We are committed to a strategic approach to expanding our capacity to meet the seasonal needs of our customers, and our first order with Boeing is a key pillar in that direction," stated Gediminas Zimelis, chairman of the aviation services group.
The purchase announcement came shortly after striking Boeing workers last week approved a new contract offer. That ended a shutdown that lasted more than seven weeks and cost Boeing billions.
With the end of the strike, about 33,000 Seattle-area employees are back to work and operations are resuming at two major assembly plants. The airline is currently trying to recover from multiple setbacks.
The affected plants produce the 737 MAX and 777 aircraft.
The versatile 737 family is among Boeing's best-selling aircraft. The 737 MAX 8 can accommodate 162 to 210 passengers - with a range of up to 6,480 km.
The strike at Boeing has worsened the company's already uncertain outlook following the January incident in which a fuselage panel exploded during a flight on a 737 MAX operated by Alaska Airlines. | BGNES
