Jet Airways will be the first Indian airline to operate Boeing’s B737 MAX after taking delivery of the first of 150 that it has on order.
The B737 has been the backbone of the carrier’s fleet for many years, said Naresh Goyal, the airline’s chairman, describing the MAX as “a critical element to our future growth strategy and we are proud to become the first airline in India to introduce this brand new airplane to our customers.” Its improved economics and efficiency will enable it “to strengthen our position as India’s premier airline,” he added.
The Mumbai-based operator placed two separate 75-aircraft orders in 2015 and earlier in 2018 for the CFM International LEAP-1B-powered jets.
Dinesh Keskar, senior vice-president, Asia Pacific and India sales at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said he was “confident that these new 737 MAX airplanes will enable the airline to successfully achieve long-term growth going forward.”
Jet Airways is India’s second-largest carrier with a fleet of nearly 120 aircraft serving more than 60 destinations across Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere.
