Garuda Indonesia Revealed as Customer for 50 737 MAX 8s

Garuda Indonesia has announced it is the customer for an order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, in a deal Boeing values at $4.9 billion at current list prices.

The flag carrier of Indonesia will purchase 46 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets and will convert existing orders for four Boeing 737-800s to 737 MAX 8s.

Garuda Indonesia announced an order on October 12, 2014 for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s. Pictured here is an illustration of a 737 MAX 8 in Garuda Indonesia’s livery

Boeing had already previously accounted for the order on its Orders and Deliveries Web site, attributing the purchase to an unidentified customer.

“The 737 MAX 8 represents a bright, efficient future for Garuda Indonesia,” said Emirsyah Satar, chief executive officer of Garuda Indonesia. “This order helps continue our commitment to offer the people of Indonesia and Southeast Asia the most comfortable, most efficient air travel in the region.”

Garuda Indonesia currently operates 77 Boeing 737 jets. The new order gives the airline the flexibility to grow and to update its fleet as the market demands, according to Boeing.

All Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will be powered CFM International LEAP-1B engines, and will have Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements installed.

According to Boeing, the 737 MAX will be 14 per cent more fuel-efficient than today’s Boeing 737NG aircraft – and 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service.

To date, Boeing 737 MAX orders total 2,295 aircraft, from 47 customers.