SMBC Aviation Capital has placed an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, comprising 60 737-10s and 40 737-8s, in a deal announced at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The agreement marks the lessor’s first order for the 737-10, the largest member of the 737 MAX family, and represents the biggest single order for the type by an aircraft leasing company.
With the new purchase, SMBC Aviation Capital’s owned, managed and committed 737 MAX portfolio will grow to 450 aircraft, strengthening its ability to meet growing airline demand for next-generation narrowbody jets.
Boeing said the 737-10, which can seat up to 230 passengers and has a range of 5,740 km (3,100 nautical miles), offers the best per-seat economics in the single-aisle market. The manufacturer added that aircraft lessors have now ordered more than 1,450 737 MAX aircraft, accounting for around 20% of the programme’s total backlog.