Boeing 737 MAX surpasses 2,000-order milestone

Boeing celebrated a milestone achievement today on the 737 MAX programme, in surpassing the 2,000th order for the super-efficient single-aisle airplane.

With the addition of 30 orders from unidentified customers this week, the 737 MAX now has a total of 2,010 orders from 39 customers worldwide, valued at $209 billion (RM672.4 billion) at list prices.

The 737 MAX has also commitments for more than 250 additional airplanes. It has reached 2,000 orders faster than any other Boeing airplane in history.

This unprecedented demand is fueled by air traffic growth and the need for more fuel-efficient airplanes.

Vice president and general manager, 737 MAX Programme, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Keith Leverkuhn said in a statement: "Two thousand orders at this stage in the programme is a remarkable achievement.

"Since its first order, the 737 MAX has received more than 50 percent of the new orders versus its direct competition, proving the value this airplane offers to our customers."

A broad base of elite customers have opted for the 737 MAX's superior fuel efficiency, operating economics and advanced interior design for their single-aisle fleets.

"The 737 MAX provides the best-in class combination of fuel-efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort that our airline clients need to compete in the future," said Steven Udvar-Hazy, chairman and CEO, Air Lease Corporation.

United Airlines vice president of Fleet, Ron Baur said the airline had a lot of faith in Boeing and the 737 MAX, especially since this will be the narrow body aircraft of the future for it.

Paulo Kakinoff, CEO, GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A meanwhile said the 737 MAX would help the airline lead the way with a modern and safe fleet and help it sustain competitive advantage.

The 737 MAX will be 14 percent more fuel-efficient than today's most efficient Next-Generation 737s, and 20 percent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service.

The 737 is more fuel efficient than the A320 today and will be more fuel efficient than the A320neo tomorrow.

Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see an eight percent operating cost per seat advantage over the A320neo.

On track to begin final assembly in mid-2015, the 737 MAX will fly in 2016 and delivered to launch customer Southwest Airlines in the third quarter of 2017.