Alaska Air to purchase additional 23737-9 MAX from Boeing

(Reuters) – Alaska Air Group Inc said on Tuesday it would purchase 23 additional 737 MAX 9 planes, underscoring growing confidence in Boeing Co planes following a 20-month safety ban triggered by two crashes deadly.

The amended deal, under which deliveries are expected between 2023 and 2024, is also expected to accelerate the pace at which the airline’s fleet returns to Boeing jets.

Alaska, for which the 737 MAX backlog including options and lease commitments stands at 120 aircraft, may exercise other options to purchase 15 aircraft with deliveries between 2023 and 2026.

In December, Seattle-based Alaska Air agreed to buy 23 MAX 9 jets, an order worth about $ 2.96 billion at list prices before steep discounts. (reut.rs/3cyQekS)

The deal with Alaska Air comes just a day after Boeing announced it had sold 100 new 737 MAX-7 jets to longtime customer Southwest Airlines, in its biggest win since the security ban was lifted.

Earlier this month, the aircraft manufacturer won orders for 24 of the 737-8 models from a backer of Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines.

The 737-9 is expected to use 20% less fuel and reduce emissions by 20% per seat compared to the planes it replaces, Boeing said in a statement.