SilkAir has ordered 54 new Boeing 737 aircraft.
The airline, which is the regional subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has placed an order for 31 of the new fuel-efficient B737 MAX 8 aircraft and 23 standard B737-800s. When finalised, the agreement will be worth US$4.9 billion at list prices. SilkAir has also agreed options for a further 14 B737s, which could take the total order to 68 jets.
Deliveries are due to begin in 2014 and continue until 2021, by which time the airline’s fleet will have more than doubled in size. SilkAir currently operates 21 Airbus A319s and A320s, with three more A320s due for delivery by the end of 2013.
The airline’s Chief Executive, Marvin Tan said the order reflects the airline’s confidence in the Asia Pacific air travel market.
“We continue to see very strong growth within the region and these new aircraft will position SilkAir well. They will enable us to spread our wings to even more destinations and increase capacity on existing routes,” Tan said.
“The selection of the B737 follows detailed evaluations and extensive negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing. The order will enable us to maintain a young and modern fleet, with an aircraft that has a proven track record of strong customer appeal, excellent reliability and low operating costs,” he added.
